Older Australian women fastest growing homeless population

Older Australian women have been forgotten about and left to succumb to homelessness, according to an advocacy group raising money for the needy cause.

An advocacy group says older women have been forgotten as the fastest growing homeless population amid Queensland’s housing crisis.

Women over the age of 55 are grappling homelessness at a higher rate than other Australian groups, with only 45 per cent having less than $40,000 in super.

“They are living on $445 a week when the average rent is more than $500 a week here in Brisbane,” Forgotten Women founder Teresa Reed said.

“These women are our mothers, our grandmothers, and our aunties, and we have seem to have forgotten about them.

“These women, very much like my mother, will not ask for help and they do not come out and turn up in homeless shelters — what they do is move into their cars.”

The high rate of Australian women being forced to sleep in their cars was the inspiration behind charity event Live Like Her Challenge.

Brisbane entrepreneur and Managing Director of My Care Enterprises Kerri-Anne Dooley, pictured in front of Teresa Reed, will be sleeping out to raise money.

Participants will sleep in their car at Eagle Farm on September 8 for one night to help raise funds for the Forgotten Women’s mission to provide fit-for-purpose housing for Brisbane women.

Ms Reed said the charity currently provided housing for 89 women over the age of 55.

“Along with providing housing, the right support is key as these women may be tackling many issues including dementia, chronic disease, frailty, elders’ rights, knowledge of legal avenues in cases of elder abuse, and more,” she said.

“We want these women to be able to live with dignity and age securely in place, as every person deserves.”

Ms Reed said state and federal governments “are attempting to do some stuff” to ease the housing supply shortfall but insisted it was a “crisis across the entire housing spectrum” given the record low vacancy rates, soaring house and rental prices, and tens of thousands of Queenslanders waiting for social housing.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the housing crisis needed multiple levels of government to address the problem.

Given the unprecedented need for housing options, the Forgotten Women founder said she supported Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner lobbying the federal government to make the Pinkenba quarantine facility available for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

“It’s a fantastic idea because I think any supply that we can get right now is needed,” Ms Reed said.

“Nobody wants to be dressing their kids for school in a car so any short term or long term option is a great choice at the moment because with 1 per cent vacancy rate, you can’t rent anywhere.”

As the number of Queenslanders languishing on the waiting list for much-needed social housing continues to soar, the Lord Mayor said the responsibility fell on governments on all levels to offer support.

“We’ve seen the focus come on these issues like never before this year and in recent years and that is a good thing because you won’t find solutions if people aren’t focusing on it,” Mr Schrinner said.