Older clients
Specialist homelessness services (SHS) provide support to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The following summarises evidence from the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection about clients aged 55 and over (older clients). For more comprehensive analyses and the most recent data, please use the hyperlinks on each evidence statement or the evidence sources at the end of this page.
Evidence summary
- Older clients make up around 1 in 10 of all SHS clients. Around 2 in 3 older clients are aged between 55 and 64[1].
- The number of older female clients has increased from around 1 in 30 clients over a decade ago to 1 in 20 clients in more recent years[2].
- Almost half (46%) of older clients aged 55–64 are participating in the labour force (either in full-time or part-time work or unemployed) when they first start SHS support[2].
- Around 3 in 5 older clients have received SHS support in the past (since data collection began in July 2011) – the lowest returning client rate among a range of client groups[2]. Older clients tend to have shorter periods of support and receive fewer nights of accommodation compared with all clients[3].
- Older clients who receive support over multiple years are relatively uncommon; around 32% of older clients access services in 2 or more years[4, 5].
- The majority of the nights of accommodation provided to older clients are provided to those who access services over multiple years[4].
- Around 1 in 5 older clients identify housing crisis (e.g. eviction) as the main reason for seeking assistance[3].
- Older clients who seek support due to financial difficulties have an increased likelihood of needing further SHS support over time[5].
Australia’s homeless population is ageing and 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 from around 12,500 to 19,400 people (14% to 16% of all people experiencing homelessness) (ABS 2023).
The causes of homelessness among older adults are diverse and often involve financial difficulties, interpersonal relationship breakdowns, and physical and mental health concerns (Crane and Warnes 2010; Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues NSW 2022; Peterson and Parsell 2020). The combination of one or more of these factors can lead to prolonged or recurrent episodes of homelessness over the lifetime or gradually accumulate, resulting in the first experience of homelessness later in life (Brown et al. 2016; Om et al. 2022). More rapid entries into later-life homelessness can occur when sudden major life events like eviction, divorce, job loss, the death of a loved one or a health crisis intersect with a lack of savings or social support (Brown et al. 2016; Om et al. 2022; Peterson and Parsell 2014).
Many older people live together with their adult children or relatives, which may put strain on relationships when families struggle with limited space or finances, fostering an environment where verbal, emotional or financial abuse could arise and ultimately lead to a housing crisis for the older person (Peterson and Parsell 2020; Steel 2011). In Australia, intergenerational financial assistance with homeownership is increasingly common, and might exacerbate the risk of financial exploitation (Cook and Cook 2024). Elder abuse as a risk factor for homelessness in later life has been identified as needing more research (MacNeil and Burnes 2022).
Housing and financial insecurity
While many older Australians are homeowners (around 80% with or without a mortgage; Burke et al. 2020), their wealth is often tied to their housing rather than other assets. Losing a home in later life may lead to a greater need for housing assistance compared with long-term renters of similar standing (Ong et al. 2015).
With housing and rental affordability worsening, homeownership among older people is declining, and older people are increasingly living in private rentals (Coates et al. 2025; Stone et al. 2024). Older renters living on low fixed incomes experience challenges with unaffordable rental costs, which can force them to move and impact health and wellbeing (Ong ViforJ et al. 2022). Some older Australians find themselves neither wealthy enough to secure outright homeownership nor ‘poor enough’ to qualify for housing assistance. Termed the ‘Missing Middle,’ this group are mostly private renters (60%) and people living in mortgaged homes (25%), and have a higher risk of precarious housing and potentially homelessness (Veeroja et al. 2024).
Experiences of older women
Increasing numbers of older women are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. An estimated 7,300 women aged 55 or older were experiencing homelessness in 2021, over 400 more than in 2016 (ABS 2018; 2023). These figures are likely to be an underestimate, as many older women without a secure home are not captured by data collection methods for various reasons, including cycling through various temporary accommodation options (AHRC 2019) and experiencing feelings of shame or embarrassment about their living situation that are a barrier to accessing services (Sutherland 2021).
Cultural factors related to economic disadvantage in later life, such as the gender pay gap, lower superannuation, economic abuse or domestic violence, contribute to increases in first-time homelessness among older women (AHRC 2019; Craig and Hastings 2024; Hastings and Craig 2023; Petersen and Tilse 2023).
Impacts of homelessness on older people
People experiencing homelessness are at risk of accelerated ageing due to the stressors that lead to and result from homelessness (Gordon et al. 2025). Older people experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience premature frailty, cognitive impairment and immobility (Gordon et al. 2024, 2025; Mantell et al. 2023). While older people experiencing homelessness may be less likely than younger people experiencing homelessness to report substance use problems (van Dongen et al. 2019), they more commonly have chronic diseases and other complex health needs (Canham et al. 2020; Crane and Warnes 2010).
Older people experiencing homelessness often lack access to the appropriate treatment and support services required to manage their health conditions as they are unable to provide a fixed address or may be unfamiliar with navigating increasingly digital application systems, especially if they have never accessed support before (Adams et al. 2025; Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues NSW 2022). As a result, many are left to manage worsening or persistent health conditions exacerbated by unstable living conditions (Humphries and Canham 2021).
Pathways out of homelessness
The first and most crucial step for older people to exit homelessness is securing affordable and age-appropriate housing (Flatau et al. 2022; Humphries and Canham 2021). Once housed, older people require assistance to navigate the aged care, medical, employment and disability services specific to their individual needs (Thredgold et al. 2019). For older people experiencing chronic homelessness, this will include support for the factors contributing to the persistence of homelessness, such as lack of social support and ill-health (Burns and Sussman 2019; Humphries and Canham 2021).
Older people experiencing homelessness for the first time may be more likely to require support overcoming individual or structural barriers, such as shame and embarrassment, a lack of accessible information about support services, or time-consuming assessment processes (Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues NSW 2022; Petersen and Parsell 2015).
An Australian study highlighted significant improvements in wellbeing and quality of life among residents of an aged care home for people who had experienced or were at risk of homelessness (O’Connor et al. 2023), supporting the value of dedicated services that are tailored to the needs of this group. Better integration and collaboration between existing support systems is also important, along with suitably trained frontline service providers who are empathetic and provide education for older people about their rights (Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues NSW 2022; Thredgold et al. 2019).
About the Specialist Homelessness Services data – defining older clients
The Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) Collection (SHSC) commenced in July 2011.
Older SHS clients are defined as clients aged 55 years and over. The inclusion of the 55–64 age recognises that employment and/or income insecurity among this cohort is a major risk factor associated with housing insecurity.
For further information, see Technical notes.
Source report | Time periods | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Specialist homelessness services: monthly data | July 2017 – end of last quarter | Monthly data on the number of clients supported each month since July 2017. |
| 2. Specialist homelessness services Collection data cubes | 2011–12 onwards | Customisable demographic data cubes. |
| 3. Specialist homelessness services annual report | 2011–12 onwards | Summarises the characteristics of clients receiving support from specialist homelessness services throughout financial years, including the services requested, outcomes achieved, and unmet requests for services. |
| 4. Older clients of specialist homelessness services | Focus study of clients during 2013–14 to 2017–18 | Provides an overview of older Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) clients experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. It describes the characteristics of clients provided with assistance, services requested, housing situation and outcomes, indicators of economic wellbeing, service use intensity and vulnerabilities. |
| 5. Specialist homelessness services client pathways: Older clients in 2014–17 | Study cohort older clients in 2014–17 | Longitudinal analyses undertaken for a group of SHS clients (aged 55 and older) in the period 2014–17. These analyses examine SHS service use patterns for this group of clients for a period of 3 years before and after 2014–17. |
Adams E, Donaghy E, Sanders C, Wolters MK, Ng L, St-Jean C, Galan R, Mercer SW (2025) ‘Digital Interventions for Older People Experiencing Homelessness: Systematic Scoping Review’, JMIR, 27:e63898, doi: 10.2196/63898
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018) Census of Population and Housing: estimating homelessness, 2016, ABS website, accessed 13 May 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023) Census of Population and Housing: estimating homelessness, 2021, ABS website, accessed 27 July 2023.
AHRC (Australian Human Rights Commission) (2019) Older women’s risk of homelessness: Background paper 2019, AHRC, accessed 22 July 2025.
Brown R, Goodman L, Guzman D, Tieu L, Ponath C, Kushel M (2016) ‘Pathways to homelessness among older homeless adults: Results from the HOPE HOME study’, PLoS ONE, 11(5): e0155065, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155065
Burke T, Nygaard C, and Ralston L (2020) Australian home ownership: past reflections, future directions, AHURI Final Report No. 328, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, accessed 22 July 2025.
Burns VF and Sussman T (2019) ‘Homeless for the First Time in Later Life: Uncovering More Than One Pathway’, The Gerontologist, 59(2):251–259, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnx212
Canham SL, Custodio K, Mauboules C, Good C and Bosma H (2020) ‘Health and psychosocial needs of older adults who are experiencing homelessness following hospital discharge’, The Gerontologist, 60(4): 715–724, doi: 10.1093/geront/gnz078
Coates B, Bowese M and Moloney J (2025) Renting in retirement: Why Rent Assistance needs to rise, Grattan Institute, accessed 22 July 2025.
Cook J and Cook PS (2024) ‘Intergenerational financial assistance with home ownership: Considering the potential for financial elder abuse’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, 59(4):940–954, https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.319
Craig L and Hastings C (2024) ‘Intersectionality of gender and age (‘gender*age’): a critical realist approach to explaining older women’s increased homelessness’, Journal of Critical Realism, 23(4):361–383, https://doi.org/10.1080/14767430.2024.2389675
Crane M and Warnes AM (2010) ‘ Homelessness among older people and service responses’, Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 20(4):354–363, doi:10.1017/S0959259810000225
Flatau P, Lester L, Seivwright A, Teal R, Dobrovic J, Vallesi S, Hartley C and Callis Z (2022) Ending Homelessness in Australia: an evidence and policy deep dive, Centre for Social Impact, accessed 22 July 2025.
Gordon SJ, Baker N, Marin TS and Steffens M (2024) ‘Health Status of People Who Are and Are Not Experiencing Homelessness: Opportunities for Improvement’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(10):1313, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21101313
Gordon SJ, Baker N, Marin TS and Steffens M (2025) ‘Health Deficits Among People Experiencing Homelessness in an Australian Capital City: An Observational Study’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(2):135, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22020135
Hastings C and Craig L (2023) ‘Accumulating Financial Vulnerability, Not Financial Security: Social Reproduction and Older Women’s Homelessness’, History, Theory and Society, 40(3):356–376, https://doi.org/10.1080/14036096.2022.2163513
Humphries J and Canham SL (2021) ‘Conceptualizing the shelter and housing needs and solutions of homeless older adults: Housing Studies’, 36(2):157–179, https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2019.1687854
Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues (NSW) (2022) Homelessness amongst older people aged over 55 in New South Wales, Parliament of New South Wales, accessed 1 May 2025.
MacNeil A and Burnes D (2022) ‘Bridging the Gap between Homelessness in Older Adulthood and Elder Abuse: Considerations for an Age-Friendly Shelter System.’, Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 34(3):391–400, doi: 10.1080/08959420.2021.1973342
Mantell R, Hwang YIJ, Radford K, Perkovic S, Cullen P and Withall A (2023) ‘Accelerated aging in people experiencing homelessness: A rapid review of frailty prevalence and determinants’, Frontiers in Public Health, 11:1086215, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1086215
O’Connor CMC, Poulos RG, Sharma A, Preti C, Reynolds NL, Rowlands AC, Flakelar K, Raguz A, Valpiani P, Faux SG, Boyer M, Close JCT, Gupta L and Poulos C (2023) ‘An Australian aged care home for people subject to homelessness: health, wellbeing and cost–benefit’, BMC Geriatrics, 23(1):253.
Om P, Whitehead L, Vafeas C and Towell-Barnard A (2022) ‘A qualitative systematic review on the experiences of homelessness among older adults’, BMC Geriatrics 22(1):363, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02978-9
Ong ViforJ R, Hewton J, Bawa S and Singh R (2022) ‘Forced housing mobility and mental wellbeing: evidence from Australia’, International Journal of Housing Policy, 23(1):138–162, https://doi.org/10.1080/19491247.2022.2059845
Ong R, Wood G, Colic-Peisker V (2015) ‘Housing older Australians: Loss of homeownership and pathways into housing assistance’, Urban Studies, 52(16):2979–3000, https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098014550955
Petersen M and Parsell C (2014) ‘Homelessness for the First time in Later Life: An Australian Study’, Housing Studies, 30(3):368–391, https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2014.963522
Peterson M and Parsell C (2020) ‘The Family Relationships of Older Australians at Risk of Homelessness’, The British Journal of Social Work, 50(5):1440–1456, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcaa007
Petersen M and Tilse C (2023) ‘Women’s life course and precarious housing in older age: an Australian qualitative study’, Housing Studies, 39(12):3245–3267, https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2023.2254721
Steel M (2011) ‘Aging, Elder Abuse and Homelessness’, Parity, 24(5):8–9.
Stone W, Reynolds M, Veeroja P, Power ER, Perugia F and James A (2024) Ageing in a housing crisis: Older people's insecurity and homelessness in Australia, Swinburne University of Technology, https://doi.org/10.26185/87bq-4190
Sutherland G (2021) ‘Study of the health needs of older women experiencing homelessness in the Perth metropolitan area’, Parity, 34(10):69-71.
Thredgold C, Beer A, Zufefrey C, Peters A and Spinney A (2019) An effective homelessness services system for older Australians, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne.
Veeroja P, Reynolds M and Stone W (2024) Not poor enough, not rich enough: Older people falling through the housing assistance eligibility gap, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne.