‘I’d rather sleep rough’

Woman claims crisis refuge unsecure, unhygienic

A GOLD Coast woman says she would rather sleep on the street than go back to a crisis refuge for women and children in Southport.

The woman, aged in her 50s, told the Bulletin she stayed at the Salvation Army’s Still Waters refuge from September until November last year.

She claimed the refuge was unsafe, unsecure and unhygienic, and no place for women in crisis.

But Salvation Army national head of media Steve Speziale insisted the facility “operates with the highest regard for the safety and well-being of the women and children in their care”.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke out after it was revealed the refuge had been slapped with an improvement notice from Workplace Health and Safety and forced to improve security

She said her chaotic stay began when she moved in and was “confronted with fresh menstrual blood smeared across the front of a communal toilet seat” and had no option but to clean it herself.

The woman claimed in another incident a volatile resident with mental health issues threatening to “smash your (expletive) face in”.

She said she called police for help from her bedroom “as no one answered the front office phone” and the aggressive resident was subsequently taken to a mental health unit.

However, Mr Speziale said the woman and her apparent aggressor “had an altercation” and staff activated an appropriate “management plan” before moving the residents into separate accommodation.

The woman said security was lax.

“The front door was kept latched open all the time ... that was a major concern. Anyone could just walk in,” she said.

“Despite having security cameras, women residing upstairs in one building managed to have men enter the facility for the purpose of having sex.

“Staff only became aware of this when a resident discovered a man in the residential hallway and reported it.’’

The woman, who has approached politicians including Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates, said she had been “horrified” by poor security because “some women at Still Waters are escaping domestic violence”.

Mr Speziale said the refuge’s reception area and security doors had “been reconfigured”.

The woman alleged she was evicted from the refuge – “treated like human garbage” – when she raised concerns. But Mr Speziale said workers tried to speak to the woman about any issues, but she did not to attend scheduled meetings