When her partner became abusive she took out a family violence order but was worried he was breaching it.
She took her kids and went to live with her sister in a different area, applying for "rapid" social housing.
After a four-month wait with no success, the situation with Jen's sister became untenable and she had no choice but to return to the remote community where her partner abused her.
Her story, under a pseudonym, is one of several from Tasmania's northwest contained in an Anglicare report.
Almost 32 per cent of women in Tasmania have experienced violence, emotional or economic abuse from a cohabiting partner since the age of 15 - the highest rate in the nation.
Anglicare said the northwest was a domestic violence "hotspot" with the number of reports to police over the past three years 1.35 times greater than the state's south.
The number of people seeking housing help due to domestic violence was 3.75 times higher than the south.
One woman said her ex-partner, who lived on the same property as her, broke into her residence, verbally abused her and damaged things.
She reported the incident to police but said they didn't issue a family violence order or press charges because she hadn't been physically assaulted.
Anglicare policy officer Ginny Toombs said one of the greatest barriers to the safety of survivors in the northwest was the shortage of safe and affordable housing.
"Housing options give people greater opportunity to leave abusive situations and access help and support," she said.
Anglicare has called for additional funding for crisis accommodation in the region and more transitional and social housing.
Analysis from policy experts has estimated an extra 1708 crisis beds are needed across Tasmania to meet unmet demand.
More than 1700 crisis beds are needed across Tasmania to meet unmet demand. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
There are currently two facilities for women and children in the northwest with 15 self-contained units, Anglicare says.
Tasmanian government minister Felix Ellis said addressing family violence was a high priority.
He noted the government's pledge to build 10,000 social and affordable homes by 2032 and a March election promise of100 more houses for family violence survivors.
In the four years to 2023, the government opened 91 units for crisis and transitional accommodation statewide but none in the northwest.
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