Bunbury’s Waratah Support Centre CEO Liz Phillips said a facility was needed to accommodate men who were given police orders resulting from family domestic violence.

She said the men and their families were put in a difficult situation when no accommodation could be found, especially when being given an order late at night.

She also said there were support services available for women in the area but not enough to support men.

At present the only support available for men is the men’s domestic violence helpline, which is a Perth based telephone service.

“If the government is serious about combating domestic violence they need to think about funding an accessible service for men,” she said.

“There needs to be somewhere they can be safe.

“It will also help reduce the anxiety for women who know their partners have nowhere to go.”

Ms Phillips said in the past year 54 men were stuck with nowhere to go after being given a police order.

“That’s 54 men that could’ve benefited from a service,” she said.

“Providing some crisis accommodation is a small measure and a good investment.”