Throughout Australia the need for social housing, particularly seniors, continues to grow.
“Older women are needing safe affordable housing more than ever,” said Narelle Hand, Chief Executive Officer at Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter in Sydney.
“My service turns away on average 33 women per month, 400 per year needing crises help. Many of these women are older women. If we don’t have housing that they can access after shelter it lengthens their stay and creates barriers to independence.”
Narelle was commenting on Homes NSW’s LinkedIn post on the delivery of 12 new social homes built by TradeLink Construction in Merrylands, 16km west of Sydney’s CBD. Days later Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was all smiles as he attended the opening of 61 new homes – 48 social and 13 affordable – delivered by community housing provider SGCH, IDC Properties, Nordon Jago Architects and Tricon in Marrickville, 7km southwest of Sydney’s CBD.
In every state in Australia the wait list for social housing is increasing. NSW Government’s own figures released in December last year showed the delivery of priority social housing, including seniors, was the second lowest in 2024. 63,260 people are on the waiting list for social housing in December last year, with 10,873 deemed priority (the highest number in 2024).
In Queensland, 27.2% of applicants for social housing have been waiting for at least three years. On 30 June 2024, 13,040 applications on the register (51.7 per cent) were households flagged as homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The PM’s “Homes for Australia” promise of 1.2 million new homes by 2029 looks dead in the water. The Master Builders Association said last Wednesday in the year to September 2024, only 165,000 new homes began construction, well below the 200,000 required each year to meet the target.
The Albanese Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility and National Housing Accord Facility to deliver 40,000 social and affordable homes over five years has seen185 preferred projects progress to contract negotiations. The preferred projects are expected to deliver more than 9,500 affordable homes and 4,200 social homes. Funding for the second phase of the project is open to applications from state and territory governments.
Over 55s accommodation is available on villages.com.au
