A  2,950sqm site with outdated social housing buildings in Bowden, 2km northwest of Adelaide's CBD, will be demolished for a new $25 million development primarily for housing women over 55 facing homelessness.

UnitingSA is seeking planning approval to build 22 social and 12 affordable apartments along with two specialist disability housing apartments to be operated by UnitingSA Housing. Also, there would be six townhouses that would be sold privately and six social apartments owned by SA Housing Association under the plan.

UnitingSA chief executive Jenny Hall said women aged 55 and over are the fastest growing demographic of Australians facing homelessness.  

“We are seeing increasing numbers of older women present to our services under extreme housing stress,” she said. “Women are particularly vulnerable to housing insecurity."

Jenny, who is a member of South Australia’s first Housing Security for Older Women Taskforce, said her organisation sees the impact the cost-of-living crisis and housing affordability is having on South Australians, who are increasingly seeking help from UnitingSA.

The development, which will receive $7 million in Federal Social Housing Accelerator funding, is expected to be finished by late 2026.