It’s called co-housing and from the street, it looks like an ordinary large house.
The idea behind Sharing with Friends, which is registering to be a Not For Profit charity, is to create an affordable, safe, secure home for older women to live privately and with dignity as they age.
Designed for an 800m² block, which is close to public transport, shops and medical facilities, the Sharing with Friends house would incorporate ageing in place-wide doorways on the ground, wheelchair access and walk-in showers and shower rails. The key element is that each woman is given her one-bedroom unit within the home, yet there are communal spaces for the women to get together, if they desire.
Sharing with Friends help with developing the rules and responsibilities for sharing expenses, having visitors, pets, and how the women’s investment is recouped if and when they leave. A formal agreement between the woman is signed. They consult with the Foundation’s architect to choose the design of their homes and gardens (within limited available options).
Sharing With Friends President Susan Davies told the ABC she had 120 women keen to explore the concept.
Villages leading the way
The group is not the only organisation looking to pioneer this kind of concept.
Illawarra-based community-owned Not For Profit IRT has completed Jasmine Grove, a new ‘women-only’ housing precinct at its Kanahooka retirement village south of Wollongong.
Priced from $199,000, the model features eight private one-bedroom self-contained villas set around a community building with a large share kitchen, family sized dining and lounge area.
Residents also receive 50 hours of integrated IRT Home Care services within the first 12 months of their residency – and it is also receiving plenty of interest from buyers.
With many older women at risk of homelessness, it is clear that more innovative solutions are needed – but it is good to see some progress towards this important issue.
It’s also important to remember that many retirement villages – particularly Not For Profits – offer some form of affordable housing. You can find out more at villages.com.au.
For a list of homelessness services across Australia, visit Homelessness Australia here.
