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AUSTRALIA-SYDNEY - HOUSING INSECURITY FOR MORE WOMEN

 

State of Sydney 2011: Home Truths

ANGLICARE Sydney’s annual State of Sydney report for 2011 finds that housing insecurity is making more women socially excluded, with women the highest users of homelessness services.

Home Truths: Impacts of housing insecurity on women across the life course looks at the experience of single young mothers, single women over 50 and older women caring for a son or daughter with a disability.

“When inadequate income and unaffordable housing come together, there is a perfect storm for disadvantage and vulnerability”, said Sue King, Director of Advocacy at ANGLICARE Sydney.

Home Truths is unique because it looks at the issue of housing across generations of women and socio-economic groups; secure housing is not just about poverty, but choice and opportunity.

“Older parent carers are overcome with stress about future care options for their son or daughter, while young mothers and single older women are finding it harder to get stable, safe housing.”

ANGLICARE Sydney undertook the study because staff from its Carramar Early Intervention Program for young mothers were concerned by the significant difficulty finding affordable housing for young mothers leaving the program.

“We know that having a place to call home opens up a wealth of opportunities for the future – it gives significant stability to help break the cycle of disadvantage.

“In a tight Budget environment we are asking State and Federal Governments to look at smart investment in social and public housing that will have the most pay off in terms of social and economic wellbeing; temporary crisis accommodation programs are most effective”, said Ms King.

Home Truths also calls for an urgent increase in the Newstart payment for people over 50 and more accommodation options for young adults with a disability.