❓ The WA Government outlines measures taken to address homelessness among women over 55, including specialist services, housing initiatives, and partnerships, while acknowledging ongoing challenges in affordable housing access.
AnsweredQoN 1521Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to concerns within the welfare sector that an increasing number of women over sixty are joining the ranks of the homeless and ask what measures are being taken to arrest this development?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
4 December 2013
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
34 days
The Australian Bureau of Statistics
[1]
, 2049.0 Census of Population and Housing: Estimating Homelessness, 2011 indicated there was a total of 9592 people classified as homeless on Census night 2011 in Western Australia, of these 580 were females 55 years and over. This represents six per cent of the total homeless population recorded on Census night. The biggest proportion of those women 55 years and over (43 per cent), were staying temporarily with other households.
Women 55 years and over may access funded specialist homelessness services for single women, women with accompanying children, couples and families, depending on their family circumstances.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Specialist Homelessness Services 2011-12 Annual Report, indicated 561 women 55 years and over utilised specialist homelessness services in 2011-12, representing 4.4 per cent of the total female clients.
Through the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness the Western Australian Government provided $23.7 million to build the St Bartholomew's House Lime Street facility. This facility provides crisis, transitional and aged accommodation for men, as well as 54 independent apartments which can be occupied by women or men who have previously been homeless. St Bartholomew's House plans to redevelop its former premises in Brown Street, East Perth to deliver a range of accommodation options, including for older women and older couples. The Department of Housing is working with St Bartholomew's on the planning for this redevelopment.
Public housing provides an important accommodation option for older women. Currently, single women over the age of 55 make up 25 per cent of public housing tenancies.
The Western Australian Liberal-National Government has developed the Affordable Housing Strategy 2010-2020: Opening Doors to Affordable Housing, which has a minimum target of 20,000 additional affordable homes by 2020. Since 2010, the Government has delivered approximately 10,000 affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income Western Australians. Some of the highlights of what has been achieved are:
• 3,690 new social houses for people with very low incomes;
• 1,554 public houses 'freed up' and reallocated to people on the waiting list, after helping over-income tenants to move into alternative housing options;
• 1,033 houses provided under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and A Place to Call Home Program;
• 595 Crisis Accommodation Program Units currently deployed across the State;
• 1,427 dwellings completed under the National Rental Affordability Scheme; and
• 30,727 people assisted through private rental bond assistance loans.
This is only a small snapshot of efforts to address the need for more affordable housing. The Government recognises that there are many who are still finding it difficult to access a home they can afford and, therefore, remains committed to delivering the Affordable Housing Strategy and working hard with industry and community partners to improve the availability of affordable housing for Western Australians.
[1]
Data is only available for women over 55 years.
[1]
, 2049.0 Census of Population and Housing: Estimating Homelessness, 2011 indicated there was a total of 9592 people classified as homeless on Census night 2011 in Western Australia, of these 580 were females 55 years and over. This represents six per cent of the total homeless population recorded on Census night. The biggest proportion of those women 55 years and over (43 per cent), were staying temporarily with other households.
Women 55 years and over may access funded specialist homelessness services for single women, women with accompanying children, couples and families, depending on their family circumstances.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Specialist Homelessness Services 2011-12 Annual Report, indicated 561 women 55 years and over utilised specialist homelessness services in 2011-12, representing 4.4 per cent of the total female clients.
Through the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness the Western Australian Government provided $23.7 million to build the St Bartholomew's House Lime Street facility. This facility provides crisis, transitional and aged accommodation for men, as well as 54 independent apartments which can be occupied by women or men who have previously been homeless. St Bartholomew's House plans to redevelop its former premises in Brown Street, East Perth to deliver a range of accommodation options, including for older women and older couples. The Department of Housing is working with St Bartholomew's on the planning for this redevelopment.
Public housing provides an important accommodation option for older women. Currently, single women over the age of 55 make up 25 per cent of public housing tenancies.
The Western Australian Liberal-National Government has developed the Affordable Housing Strategy 2010-2020: Opening Doors to Affordable Housing, which has a minimum target of 20,000 additional affordable homes by 2020. Since 2010, the Government has delivered approximately 10,000 affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income Western Australians. Some of the highlights of what has been achieved are:
• 3,690 new social houses for people with very low incomes;
• 1,554 public houses 'freed up' and reallocated to people on the waiting list, after helping over-income tenants to move into alternative housing options;
• 1,033 houses provided under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and A Place to Call Home Program;
• 595 Crisis Accommodation Program Units currently deployed across the State;
• 1,427 dwellings completed under the National Rental Affordability Scheme; and
• 30,727 people assisted through private rental bond assistance loans.
This is only a small snapshot of efforts to address the need for more affordable housing. The Government recognises that there are many who are still finding it difficult to access a home they can afford and, therefore, remains committed to delivering the Affordable Housing Strategy and working hard with industry and community partners to improve the availability of affordable housing for Western Australians.
[1]
Data is only available for women over 55 years.
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