Link Wentworth is supporting the Housing for Older Women (HOW) program, with a new pilot program to secure tenancies for women over 55 who are affected by homelessness or housing insecurity.
HOW aims to match older women (55+) in the Blue Mountains who are in insecure housing/homeless with homeowners who are prepared to rent a room, unit or home at an affordable rate. Thus far, the program has helped ten women to find housing.
The Older Women鈥檚 Network (OWN) Blue Mountains launched the not-for profit HOW program at an event on May 22, attended by Link Wentworth staff from the Specialist 星空视频lessness Services Team, attending alongside Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman MP and State Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle MP.
The pilot program will include tenancy management for appropriate and available self-contained accommodation, such as a granny flat or a holiday rental. Link Wentworth will provide further support through committee involvement and crisis management on an ongoing basis.
Affordable housing in the Blue Mountains鈥� private rental market is increasingly difficult for older women, particularly in the concurrent cost of living and rental affordability crises. 鈥�
Many factors contribute to a greater risk of housing instability for older women, including relationship separation, death of a partner and retirement. The higher percentage of women in carers鈥� roles during their lifetimes also results in having significantly lower superannuation balances and savings than men.
When rents increase or associated housing costs become unsupportable, some women are forced to move out of rental accommodation – even when employed. There is a hidden proportion of women who subsequently find themselves couch surfing with family and friends or living in precarious situations.
This pilot project and the broader work of the HOW program, assertively target this vulnerable demographic through partnerships that make use of available accommodation to reduce the number of older women experiencing housing insecurity.
Link Wentworth wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which we work and pay our respect to the Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.