Homelessness services

The number of older people experiencing homelessness is increasing. From 2006 to 2021, the estimated number of people aged 55 and over experiencing homelessness rose by 55% – from around 12,500 to 19,400 people (14% to 16% of all people experiencing homelessness) (ABS 2023). The increase in part reflects the ageing profile within Australia’s population (AIHW 2024).

Older people experience homelessness through a range of pathways. These can begin (Om et al. 2022; Petersen and Parsell 2020; Petersen and Tilse 2026; Stone et al. 2024):

• early in life, due to family violence or other disadvantages at a young age
• gradually, through worsening financial stress or health issues
• suddenly, following events such as eviction, divorce or a health crisis.

Some older people live with adult children or relatives. Money or space constraints can impact these arrangements and, in some cases, lead to verbal, emotional or financial abuse and housing loss (Peterson and Parsell 2020; Steel 2011). Growing intergenerational financial support for housing may also increase the risk of financial exploitation (Cook and Cook 2024). More research is needed to understand the role of elder abuse in homelessness later in life (MacNeil and Burnes 2022; Somes and O’Brien 2026).

For further information please visit Older Australians.

Homeownership and financial insecurity

While around 80% of older Australians are homeowners, homeownership is declining and private renting is increasing (Coates et al. 2025; Stone et al. 2024). At the same time, more older people are carrying mortgage debt into later life. From 2011 to 2021, the proportion of people aged 55 and over living in a home owned with a mortgage increased from around 1 in 5 (19%) to almost 1 in 4 (23%) (Stone et al. 2024).

Older renters and people with a mortgage often rely on fixed or limited incomes. Rising housing costs can be difficult to manage and can force relocation, affecting wellbeing (Ong ViforJ et al. 2022). Older private renters are particularly vulnerable to unaffordable and poor-quality housing (Veeroja et al. 2025), which can increase the risk of homelessness (Stone et al. 2024; Veeroja et al. 2024).

Experiences of older women

An estimated 7,300 women aged 55 or older were experiencing homelessness in 2021, an increase of more than 400 since 2016 (ABS 2018; 2023). 

These figures are likely to be an underestimate, as many older women who experience homelessness are not captured by data collection methods due to cycling through various temporary accommodation options (AHRC 2019) or avoiding services out of mistrust, shame or embarrassment (Sutherland 2021).

Economic disadvantage across the life course contributes to increases in first-time homelessness among older women. Key contributing factors include (AHRC 2019; Craig and Hastings 2024; Hastings and Craig 2023; Petersen and Tilse 2023):

• the gender pay gap
• lower superannuation
• economic abuse
• domestic violence.

Impacts of homelessness on older people

Premature ageing can result from the stressors associated with homelessness (Gordon et al. 2025). Older people experiencing homelessness are more likely than those not experiencing homelessness to face (Canham et al. 2020; Gordon et al. 2024, 2025; Mantell et al. 2023):

• premature frailty
• psychological distress
• cognitive impairment
• chronic disease.

Many also face barriers to accessing health and support services. These include not having a fixed address or difficulty navigating increasingly digital application systems, especially for those accessing services for the first time (Adams et al. 2025; Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues NSW 2022). As a result, many are left to manage health conditions worsened by unstable living conditions (Humphries and Canham 2021). 

Pathways out of homelessness 

Securing affordable and age-appropriate housing is the most crucial first step for older people to exit homelessness (Flatau et al. 2022; Humphries and Canham 2021). Once housed, older people could benefit from help to navigate aged care, health care, employment and disability services (Thredgold et al. 2019).

For older people experiencing chronic homelessness, support must address the factors that contribute to its persistence, including (Burns and Sussman 2019; Humphries and Canham 2021):

• limited social support
• financial insecurity
• poor health.

Older people experiencing homelessness for the first time may be more likely to need help overcoming personal or structural barriers. These can include (Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues NSW 2022; Petersen and Parsell 2015):

• shame, embarrassment or stigma
• a lack of accessible information about support services
• time-consuming assessment processes.

Research shows improvements in wellbeing and quality of life among people living in aged care services designed for those who had experienced or been at risk of homelessness (O’Connor et al. 2023). Such findings highlight the value of tailored services and better integration across support systems (Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues NSW 2022; Thredgold et al. 2019).

Aged care eligibility

Under the Aged Care Act 2024, people aged 50 years and over who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness are eligible to apply for an aged care needs assessment (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 2025). Around 1 in 6 SHS clients are aged 50 or older and may therefore meet the criteria to access aged care services. For more information about this cohort, see Older SHS clients and changes to the Aged Care Act.