Women’s housing initiatives

What if we could provide more affordable, appropriate and safe housing for women over 55 at risk of homelessness in Australia?

More affordable and safe housing needed

In Australia, a significant number of women aged 55 and over, are at risk of homelessness. This growing cohort, estimated at ~240,000 in 2020 and likely increased, are locked out of a place to call home due to a lack of safe, affordable and appropriate housing solutions. A further ~165,000 women aged 45-54 (“invisible women”) are also at risk. Single women are particularly vulnerable, with a risk of homelessness 8-9 times greater than women living in a two-person home.

This worrying growth is driven by a combination of factors, including: 

• Years in unpaid caring roles or part-time work, resulting in lower superannuation and lifetime earnings. 

• Relationship breakdowns, domestic and family violence. 

• Rising housing costs and limited access to affordable rental options. 

• Ageing on a low income, often isolated, and without a strong safety net makes it extremely difficult to recover from financial shocks or housing instability – pushing more women into crisis as they grow older.

This problem is exacerbated by an ageing population, increasing cost of living and undersupply of social housing. Recent policy and funding developments remain inadequate to meet the scale of need in the current housing crisis.

Scalable solutions

SVA is responding to this crisis with a two-part scalable solution: 

1. Women over 55 Housing Pilot: an innovative project aimed at addressing the supply of safe, affordable and appropriate housing. This pilot will showcase a village-style approach through the delivery of more than 20 purpose-built homes. These homes will be designed for women over 55 and complementary cohorts who face barriers to access secure and appropriate housing to help create an inclusive, mixed-income community. In addition to providing real homes, the project aims to unlock the funding, insights and frameworks needed to replicate the self-sustaining approach and improve housing outcomes for women aged 55 and over nationally. 
    

2. Women over 55 Housing Fund: a national women’s housing fund to unlock private, public and philanthropic capital responding to the growing need for gender-responsive housing. The fund will invest in scalable projects delivered by trusted community housing providers, focused on women over 55, women escaping violence, and other complementary cohorts. The fund will fill the capital gap, support delivery partners, and catalyse new forms of gender-lens based housing investment. 

SVA is uniquely positioned to lead this work, with deep expertise in housing, innovative finance and systems change, and a strong track record of delivering high-impact, cross-sector solutions to complex social challenges. 

Partnering opportunity

SVA is currently seeking support for a project to provide more affordable, appropriate and safe housing for women over 55 at risk of homelessness in Australia.