Advocates call on support for older homeless women and DV survivors

This issue continues to affect women, the fastest growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness in the country.

In the 2021 Census, 44.2 per cent of the 122,494 people estimated to be experiencing homelessness were women.

In 2019, women over 55 were the fastest growing group of homeless people in Australia.

“It is vital to recognise that in a housing affordability crisis, women may choose to stay in abusive relationships if they cannot find somewhere safe, secure and affordable to go,” says Annabelle Daniel, CEO of top DV organisation, Women’s Community Shelters.

“Women’s Community Shelters has grown our shelter network bed nights by 30 per cent in the last twelve months, but the percentage of clients we have been unable to assist has grown by 92 per cent in the same period.”

“Providing shelter through crisis, transitional and long-term housing prevents more women becoming homeless. We need to invest in ‘whole of society’ solutions to prevent more women becoming homeless this year and into the future.”

Homelessness is a daily reality for more than 247,000 Australians, noted Simone Parsons, COO of Bridge Housing, a NSW-based community housing provider.