Older people are the fastest growing subpopulation of people experiencing homelessness and of people using homelessness services in the nation, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Women are most at risk with the number of older homeless women increasing by over 30% between 2011 and 2016 to nearly 7,000.
But finally social housing for women aged over 55 is gathering pace.
Earlier this week, a new venture, Local, announced it had in excess of $500 million from Macquarie Bank’s Macquarie Asset Management.
All projects, including its first in Kensington, 4km northwest of Melbourne’s CBD, will incorporate a targeted component of impact housing with accommodation to create positive social impact, focusing on three groups – key workers such as nurses and hospitality workers; people living with a disability; and women over the age of 55 who are at risk of homelessness.
In NSW, within the new Henry Brooks Estate at IRT Kanahooka retirement village, Jasmine Grove (pictured) will provide a more affordable retirement living option for a group of eight single women.
And in Sydney, the NSW Government has committed more than $18 million to create 78 new dwellings in Seven Hills, Camden, Airds, Revesby, Merrylands, Peakhurst, Penrith and Maroubra, solely for the use of older women facing homelessness.
More needs to be done however to stem the problem.
“There are almost 5,000 single women over 55 on the NSW housing waitlist,” said Women’s Housing Company CEO Debbie Georgopoulos.
Let’s hope we see more incentives for developers to build more of these affordable housing options.
