The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute report, 'Housing outcomes after family violence,' found, although immediate responses to domestic and family violence were generally effective the timely, the demand outweighed the supply. 

Lead author and University of Tasmania research fellow Dr Kathleen Flanagan said Tasmania's shortage of long-term housing leaves many women and children at risk of homelessness. 

"Where affordable housing is not available, women may decide to return to a violent relationship because they perceive this is a safer option than the alternative, such as homelessness," Dr Flanagan said. 

"It's not just about providing our most vulnerable with suitable housing, it represents how we value our people and families. 

"We need to be providing them with homes that are safe, stable, affordable and secure into the long term, so they can go on and flourish."

Dr Flanagan said the research examined how hosing and other forms of support for vulnerable families can best be integrated to improve safety and well-being. 

"We found that, in general, the responses to domestic and family violence adopted by governments around Australia, promote collaborative working relationships amongst services and provide support that is valued and appreciated by those people in need," Dr Flanagan said.

"However, data suggests Specialist Homelessness Services, the principal crisis responders, can do little to provide a pathway from crisis to stable, secure and long-term accommodation, which is largely because the supply is inadequate.

"Without an adequate supply of affordable, suitable housing, moving from short-term or transitional accommodation to permanent, independent housing is very difficult and sometimes unachievable."

Dr Flanagan said for Tasmania  to respond effectively there needs to be greater investment in affordable housing options alongside the investment in service responses to family violence.

"Programs designed to support renting in the private sector can be effective for some women, but in tight, competitive housing markets, where landlords have many other applicants to choose from, women and their children will often miss out," she said.

"More broadly, the private rental market doesn't tend to offer the very long-term stability and affordability people need.

"The shortage of affordable housing means women can feel pressured to accept accommodation that is substandard, too far from critical networks or located in neighbourhoods or settings that are unsafe."