New taskforce to investigate housing needs of older women

A group of high-profile South Aussies have teamed up to tackle the fastest-growing group of homeless people – women aged 55 and older.

A new taskforce will investigate the housing needs of the fastest-growing group of homeless people – women aged 55 and older.

The group, first flagged by Labor as an election pledge, will focus on ensuring supply of affordable and accessible homes, including possible new models for home ownership and financing.

The Older Women’s Housing Taskforce will also look at supports that could make existing properties more flexible so that people can stay in their own homes for longer, and models and options for homes that suit “a greater diversity of needs”.

Dr Alice Clark, of Shelter SA, has been appointed by Human Services Minister Nat Cook to chair the group, which will hear from women with lived experience from a range of backgrounds.

Other members of the taskforce include representatives from sectors such as health, universities, ageing, domestic and family violence, local government, housing and homelessness, and community services.

Ms Cook said older women were at higher risk of housing insecurity due to the gender pay gap, limited superannuation, caring responsibilities and family violence.

Jennifer Harris has welcomed the new taskforce. Picture: Tom Huntley

“I cannot accept that high numbers of women in our community live with the threat of homelessness,” she said. “This taskforce has a critical job ahead of it.

“The mix of lived experience, expertise and sector experience at the table will provide key insights and identify opportunities to make real differences for older women who worry about their housing future.”

Dr Clark said members of the taskforce had a breadth and depth of experience and knowledge and would be guided by women with first-hand experience of housing insecurity.

“The taskforce is an important step forward in improving housing security for older women and the focus on action and implementation is welcomed,” she said.

“We know there are pressures on social housing, private rental and home ownership across the board.

“These are magnified when a woman has limited income and lives on their own.

“We need to look at responses across the housing market to make a difference for this group.”

Jennifer Harris, 50, spent 16 years living in insecure housing, including couch-surfing and sleeping in her car, before she was placed in a public housing unit at Parkside in May.

She said women faced unique challenges when it came to housing, which she said became increasingly difficult to find as they aged.

“As the housing problem gets worse, it gets harder and harder for women,” she said. “A lot of women are coming out of a partnership where the partner has either always dealt with the finances or everything is in the partner’s name.

“The system is really not set up to help those women when they’re on their own.”

Ms Harris said health issues had played a role in her own struggle to find housing, and the perceptions of employers made it difficult to hold down a job during periods of homelessness.

According to a PropTrack Market Insight Report released earlier this month, the median rent in Adelaide for all dwellings (houses and units combined) has hit a record high of $450 a week.