No shelter in the storm
BY LANI OATAWAY
After selling off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of public housing in Sydney’s inner suburbs, the Baird Government has begun construction on a twenty apartment complex in Woolloomooloo for homeless older women.
In this year alone, the government has pocketed over $100 million from social housing in Millers Point, $67 million in Glebe, and $54 million throughout the rest of inner Sydney. Now the government is building a $7.4 million complex to address the rising numbers of older women experiencing homelessness.
Minister for Social Housing, Brad Hazzard, said, “This new development reaches out to some of the most vulnerable people in society and it is great news for the community.”
In March of this year, Mr Hazzard created a strategy called A Plan for Change: Homes for Older Women, which states that, “Single older women are among the most marginalised groups in terms of their access to safe affordable housing.”
But social commentator and public housing activist, Eva Cox, is dumbfounded by the government’s attempts at a quick fix for their mass destruction of social housing, leaving many older women with no options.
“Why are they getting rid of the block of apartments that were originally built for housing all the homeless women in The Rocks area? How long will it take them to sell this off to the private sector?” she asked City Hub.
“It’s weird. If they’re serious about trying to find places for homeless women, I want to see a state wide project, not a one off small development which doesn’t put weight to the number they have moved and are in the process of destroying.”
Ms Cox said many women have been left with no social connections and support networks from the Government’s bulldozing of public housing. She also raised concerns about the growing number of women in refuges, and for those who can’t get into refuges.
But Chairperson of the Women’s Housing Company, Alice Spizzo, applauds the Government’s response to the growing problem. The not for profit organisation will be managing the new complex at Woolloomooloo.
“We appreciate the opportunity the NSW Government has given us to provide more safe and affordable housing for women who really need it,” she said.
“The NSW Government shows it is really listening to the growing evidence and community concern about the increase in the numbers of older women who are homeless.”
Mr Hazzard’s strategy aims to eradicate homelessness in NSW for older women through a series of initiatives. The plan identifies homelessness services as favouring men and families, and particularly those sleeping rough in Sydney’s inner suburbs.
The Government promises an additional 30 apartments for homeless older women, most likely to be built in regional NSW.
But Ms Cox is not convinced fifty apartments will be enough to fix the problem.
“This is just a small gesture. I want to see a whole plan, and 50 units is not a plan,” said Ms Cox.
The complex in Woolloomooloo is due for completion next year.
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