Housing and homelessness

Housing is foundational to everyone’s safety and security, and ability to engage in employment, community, and recreation. Women are disproportionately impacted by housing insecurity. Due to the gender pay gap, women are less likely to be able to afford to save for a deposit for a house and are less likely to own a home at retirement.  Women are also disproportionately impacted by rental stress. Domestic, family and sexual violence is also the leading cause of homelessness for women. Nationally, 45% of women and girls seeking homelessness assistance identify domestic and family violence as a cause.  Stable, secure and affordable housing is fundamental to women’s ability to participate in society.

What to consider

• Opportunities to provide safe, secure housing for vulnerable groups.
• Housing needs and preferences of different genders. For example, working from home, proximity to schooling, need for public transport, size and accessibility of housing.
• Whether different genders face different barriers to housing (such as affordability and gender pay gap, accessibility of location, neighbourhood safety).
• Disparities in income that effect ability of different genders to afford rental and purchased housing.
• Amenities available in new neighbourhoods, including schools and public transport.

References

Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, What are the real costs of Australia’s housing crisis for women?

Homelessness Australia, Homelessness and domestic and family violence – state of response report