Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They may be called the hidden homeless, but given it's homelessness week I want to draw attention to the disturbing increase in the number of older women experiencing poverty and homelessness. Recent data shows that half of the older women living in private rentals in Greater Sydney are living in poverty, and, according to the 2021 census, two out of five homeless individuals are women.

But women don't often present as homeless individuals or rough sleepers, instead couch surfing, house-sitting, sleeping in a car or relying on help from friends and family, so all too often their circumstances are overlooked. Most of these women have never been homeless before and find themselves in this situation because of an unavoidable life event, like the death of a partner, a relationship breakdown, illness or early unemployment. As women tend to live longer, be paid less, have less superannuation and take more time out to care for others, the situation is only exacerbated over time.

In some cases, these women can access public housing or other resources, and I applaud the work of organisations such as Housing for the Aged Action Group, but in truth there is much more that can be done. Policies that provide long-term certainty and support for all older Australians, particularly women, are within our power to enact. I call on the government to ensure the national homelessness strategy has an explicit focus on older Australians, for those who have contributed so much to our nation deserve no less.