Flourish Magazine - Winter 2024

Older women remain most vulnerable

Across Australia, women aged 55 years and over remain the fastest growing population experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

The Housing Security for Older Women Taskforce recently conducted extensive consultation to find how we can turn the dial on this disturbing trend.

The Taskforce identified that older single women on low-incomes were especially vulnerable to circumstances beyond their control which caused them to be susceptible to housing insecurity. This included domestic violence, relationship breakdowns, financial insecurity and disadvantage, and market forces like housing affordability, accessibility and availability.

UnitingSA CEO Jenny Hall was a representative on the Taskforce and she is committed to finding real and impactful solutions.

“Our pilot program at Hamilton House supports women of all ages who are at risk of homelessness. This means that older women will also have a place here, which is so important as these are women who often find themselves at risk due to circumstances beyond their control.”

The full Taskforce report can be accessed at housing.sa.gov.au/hsfow, and we look forward to sharing more updates in future editions of Flourish.