Finding affordable home options for invisible women

“Older women have experienced lifetimes of lower wages, longer periods without paid employment, less superannuation, and lower rates of homeownership than their male counterparts. These women are being failed by a retirement system predicated on home ownership.” Dr K. Raynor (2021) 

Single, ‘middle aged’ (between 45 and 55 years) women in Australia are the fastest-growing group of people at risk of housing insecurity and homelessness in the country (Boucher, 2021). In a nation obsessed with home ownership, these women must overcome tremendous hurdles to find acceptable, affordable housing. All while navigating societal pressures and inequalities that threaten to derail this search.

This report has been commissioned by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation (LMCF) to explore housing models that align with the needs of this target group. The aim is to establish which potential housing models have the best chance of preventing this ‘invisible’ group from falling into homelessness.

Factors largely out of their control have worked to prevent these women from obtaining the secure, affordable home everyone deserves. But the collaboration of key stakeholders in various sectors associated with housing can help control what happens going forward. By heeding lessons from other countries and implementing that learning in Australia, we can help build a brighter future – and make sure these women aren’t left behind.