The Not For Profit is partnering with Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter to provide housing in its retirement village for two women aged over 55 facing homelessness.
After a six-month trial began in March, the two women, aged 62 and 68, have accepted an offer to extend the lease arrangements for another 12 months. James Milson Village (JMV) in North Sydney is 100% occupied.
The women were in the position of being unable to afford private housing yet finding themselves ineligible for community and social housing programs.
"Hearing first-hand from the residents that this partnership has been lifesaving for them underscores the immeasurable value of such collaborations," JMV CEO Bradley Williams (pictured) said.
The 62-year-old woman is in full-time employment, working mostly from the home office she has set up in her unit. The woman, 68, is retired.
Both women have integrated seamlessly into the JMV community, attending monthly barbecues and take part in activities with the other residents.
"For the first time in many years, I feel safe in my home. I've surrounded myself with like-minded people, reminiscent of my younger years. My home is now my sanctuary, and I haven't felt this happy and fulfilled since my early twenties in college," said one of the women.
Previous Retirement Living Council Executive Director Ben Myers released the report Retirement Living – A solution for older women at risk of homelessness in March last year, stating there were a minimum of 400 village homes that could be available for women over 55 facing homelessness in the first year alone if government supported the recommendations.
The report made five recommendations:
- Funding for a women’s housing engagement officer,
- Remove the Government’s home ownership proxy indicator for residents on a loan lease or loan licence contract,
- Residents be allowed to use Commonwealth Home Care funds to pay for all eligible services, regardless of whether they are supplied on a per-use, or communal basis,
- GST Equivalent Rebate for retirement living communities that supply a component of affordable dwellings in new developments, and
- The Government, through the National Housing Financial and Investment Corporation, provide limited recourse loans, of up to 70% of the ingoing contribution, to allow eligible women to finance an ingoing contribution for a retirement village lease.
The SOURCE: It is a wonderful initiative. If other retirement living operators are doing similar contact us at editor@thedcmgroup.com.au.
