By Olivia Condous
Melton residents affected by domestic violence will now have a new safe place to call home, with a local charity working to protect the municipality’s most vulnerable.
The Rehmat Sandhu Foundation officially opened the Blossom Home earlier this month, which will provide the not-for-profit organisation with more capacity to provide refuge for those in need.
Blossom Home is a fully-furnished three bedroom house that will accommodate those requiring somewhere secure to live.
The foundation is run by Harkness resident Ravinder Kaur, who named the charity after her son Rehmat who passed away in 2014.
“He was very lively and very helpful, actually he taught me how to love people,” Ms Kaur said.
The organisation assists those within the community with disabilities, victims of domestic violence and those who are struggling with financial difficulties.
Ms Kaur said while she had previously welcomed those needing refuge into her own home, she wanted to also provide autonomy.
“We thought that we’d go for something where they can have independence, where they can have their own space,” she said.
Ms Kaur said while the foundation receives National Disability Insurance Scheme funding, many of the workers were volunteers, including herself.
“All the profits, they go to the charity and that’s how we run the charity.”
Details: rehmatsandhufoundation.com.au/
