O.W.L’s Older Women Lost in housing O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015

O.W.L’s Older Women Lost in housing Homeless is defined as: Represents approx 600,000 women in Australia aged 45+ who are, or who are at risk of homeless. (ABS census, 2011) Homeless is defined as: Living rough on the street Couch surfing going from place to place Living in substandard insecure tenancy conditions This cohort had been identified as “the new face of homelessness” (Sharam, 2011: ACT Shelter, 2014: Anglicare, 2015). O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015

O.W.L’s Older Women Lost in housing O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015

O.W.L’s Older Women Lost in housing A secure affordable appropriate home is where all other life exists from. A home provides the base for a life connected with family, community, physical health & wellbeing, positive mental health, access to good quality food, economic security. Enables life to be lived with a sense of belonging, purpose and meaning. Home offers the Opportunity to Flourish O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015

O.W.L’s Older Women Lost in housing ‘Hidden and Underrepresented’ O.W.L’s advocates to raise awareness of the lack of secure affordable appropriate housing in Australia for these women. Through forums Media Radio T.V Newspaper Community sector Developers O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015

O.W.L’s Older Women Lost in housing equity Seeks to reform the systemic inequities that contribute to older women’s housing vulnerability. Through policy change at government level Gender pay equity Superannuation equity Relationship settlement equity O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015

O.W.L’s Older Women Lost in housing SOCIAL JUSTICE Social inclusion Breaking down stereotypes of homelessness O.W.L’s express a sense of shame at being in the position they find themselves in. It can happen to anyone! A disability or disease A relationship breakdown Family violence In combination with the common factors of generational gender inequity housing vulnerability is a social problem O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015

O.W.L’s Older Women Lost in housing resilience warnwww.sbs.com.au/.../video/542748739542/ Anglicare-warns-older -singles-older-single O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015

O.W.L’s Older Women Lost in housing ORGANISATIONS YWCA Equality Rights Alliance ACT Shelter Anglicare ACTCOSS (ACT Council of Social Services) O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015

References ACT Shelter, (2014). Home truths older women’s housing vulnerability in the ACT. Retrieved from http://www.actshelter.net.au/...home-truths-older-women- housing-vulnerability Anglicare, King, S. Paleologos, Z. Leemhuis, P. (2015). Anglicare National Conference, Leaving no one behind: Dialogues of homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.anglicare.asn.au/site/national_conference.php WHSharam, A. (2011). A predictable crisis: older, single women as the new face of homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.apo.org.au/node/22195 IN AND WHGNE. (2014). Living Longer On Less. Retrieved from www.whealth.com.au/documents/work/LIVING-LONGER-ON-LESS.pdf O.W.L's Sustainable communities 2015