Older Aussie women are staring down the barrel of homelessness in alarming numbers. If governments have any plans, they don’t go much further than wanting to put them in boarding houses. We want them to have access to purpose-built, age-friendly accommodation.
Women over the age of 55 are the fastest growing cohort of homeless Australians.
These mums, sisters, and grandmothers are accessing homelessness services in ever increasing numbers.
In fact, the Older Tenants Organisation estimates that up to 240,000 women over the age of 55 are at risk of homelessness.
Many women who are experiencing homelessness for the first time later in life have led “conventional” lives involving employment, residential stability and family.
Some confront the reality of homelessness after critical life events that could happen to anyone, like a relationship breakdown, financial trouble, or the onset of illness.
Others have experienced financial insecurity throughout their life, often because of a history of low paid or insecure work, a lack of familiarity with health and welfare systems, or a reluctance to ask friends and family for help.
These women are the ‘missing middle’, because they don’t qualify for welfare, but at the same time, don’t qualify for a mortgage from a bank.
No one story is the same. There are complex factors that when combined and compounded over time, have caused a burning social issue.
As a nation our chronic underinvestment in social and affordable housing is worsening, and it seems that governments at all levels are floundering. It’s not a new problem, and yet government solutions continue to leave these women missing in the middle.
In May 2021, the New South Wales Government issued a Statement of Assurance on the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA) 2019-2020.
In this statement the New South Wales Government promised 12 boarding houses for older single women who are aged 55 years and above who are at risk of homelessness.
Boarding houses. How is this a solution?
After 12 months of consultation and preparation, the Retirement Living Council has released a new report, which provides a set of clear recommendations, outlining practical and cost-effective housing ways that retirement living communities can support many of these vulnerable women.
Importantly, these retirement communities are not shovel ready; they are resident ready.
Retirement communities are for people aged over 55, who want to live independently in purpose-built, age-friendly communities that are designed to provide security, social engagement and support for people as they age.
By combining purpose-built age-friendly homes, with access to care and a community of people, retirement communities are uniquely able to mitigate the two main factors that lead to the hospitalisation of older Australians: falls and depression.
That’s why, with community, engagement, security and support inherent in their design, they make ideal homes for older women at risk of homelessness.
The Retirement Living Council report makes six recommendations, all of which are designed to raise awareness, increase accessibility and lower financial barriers for older women at risk of homelessness who want more than governments are able to offer right now.
While industry recognises there is funding needed to support its recommendations, the costs are miniscule compared with governments having to fund bricks and mortar and then waiting years for places to be built.
Together, we issue this call to action to all governments. Our fellow citizens: our mums, sisters, grandmothers and aunts deserve more than what you are doing right now.
By working with industry, and ensuring the right awareness and regulations are in place, retirement communities across Australia can immediately start providing affordable, safe, long-term, secure and age-friendly homes for many of the Australian women at risk of homelessness.