Housing and support for older women

Older women are the fastest-growing group of people experiencing homelessness in Australia.

Many face greater financial insecurity due to the high cost of housing, home ownership and reduced incomes. This can result in homelessness, particularly if they need to rely on income support as a single person.

We consulted with community and support organisations, advocacy groups and older women who have been homeless to develop a range of services to help those experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Housing and support hubs

Housing and support hubs in Brisbane, the Sunshine coast and Mackay connect older women to housing, homelessness, renting, health and financial support services.

The hubs support women 50 years of age and over with local and placed-based services, including:

  • a welcoming place to access housing support to prevent them from becoming homeless
  • face-to-face, online and outreach support
  • telephone information and advice
  • community awareness and advocacy
  • information and referrals to other support services.

The hubs also provide a state-wide online service for all older women living in Queensland.

For more information on how to contact the housing and support hubs, visit Housing Older Women's Support Services.

Shared living for older women

Better Together Housing, delivered by the Coast2Bay Housing Group, brings likeminded women aged over 55 together in a safe and secure way to find affordable shared housing options on the Sunshine Coast, and in Noosa and Mackay.

To participate, you may:

  • own or rent your home and be looking for another woman to share with
  • be looking for a new place to live with one (or more) other women.

Better Together Housing provides a website, and phone and email contacts, to help you decide whether a shared tenancy is right for you.

They also host ‘get it together’ events where you can meet other women, and get information and advice on shared tenancy arrangements.

To find out more:

Advisory group

An advisory group has been established to guide the development and implementation of these and other services. The group aims to improve housing and support options for older women.

The group includes older women who have experienced homelessness, members of the Housing Older Women Movement, Sharing with Friends and QShelter – Queensland’s housing and homelessness peak body.

We will also work with other Queensland Government agencies and local government to create more housing options for older women through better planning, design and construction of homes.

Together with older women, we will develop solutions that support choice, control, agency and independence.