Christine, 75, experienced homelessness for more than four years after losing her rental home in Northern New South Wales.
Through Social Futures’ Connecting Home Plus program, Christine received practical and emotional support to find safe, suitable housing. She has now secured an accessible home, allowing her to focus on her health, reconnect with family and friends, and feel settled again.
Connecting Home Plus is proudly funded by the NSW Government.
75-year-old Christine from Northern New South Wales, never, in her wildest dreams, thought she would be homeless. Yet, like more than fifteen and a half thousand Australian women, that is where she found herself until discovering Connecting Home Plus.
The spiral into homelessness began for Christine in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She had been living in a small rental cottage in the Clarence area for a number of years when the property owners needed the home back for their son who had lost his job.
Given just two weeks’ notice, Christine was forced to leave with nowhere to go. The timing couldn’t have been worse. It was getting close to Christmas, rental prices were skyrocketing, COVID saw more people moving from the city into regional areas, and the market was further overwhelmed due to displaced flood-affected Northern Rivers residents seeking housing.
Unable to secure anything affordable, Christine put her belongings into storage and turned to house-sitting and temporary stays in caravan parks.
“Well, I thought it was temporary. But it just got worse and worse,” she recalls.
Christine found herself navigating a housing crisis that left her without a permanent home for more than four and a half years before connecting with Social Futures.
The instability took a toll, both physically, as she awaited hip replacement surgery after which she needed a stable home to recover in, as well as emotionally.
“It’s been really hard as I wasn’t mobile, and I really needed comfort of my own bed and chairs and belongings to help me with my worsening condition” Christine said.
“But I had no permanent home, so surgery kept being put on hold until I found one.”
“I felt the discrimination from the hospital and the lack of duty and care. I was made to feel it was all my fault, and I had become a problem they didn’t know how to solve.”
Older women facing homelessness experience additional unique vulnerabilities. Many, like Christine, lack superannuation or savings due to years spent raising families or working in undervalued jobs. Others are escaping domestic and family violence.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has observed women over 55 as the fastest-growing cohort of homeless Australians. Factors such as financial insecurity, relationship breakdowns, and the high cost of housing contribute to this trend.
For Christine, the challenges were compounded by her mobility issues and the unsuitability of available housing options.
“There were some rentals coming back onto the market, but they were either too expensive, or they had stairs, which I couldn’t manage,” she explains.
The constant moving and lack of stability left her feeling isolated and depressed, and very vulnerable.
“There’s a lot of women on their own that are homeless. And I think that’s sad. That is somebody’s grandmother!” Christine said.
“People like me, older women, are especially vulnerable. I couldn’t run away if someone tried to assault me – I’m on a walker!”
Christine connected with Social Futures through their Connecting Home Plus program, and received one-on-one support to help her navigate her way out of the housing crisis she found herself in for more than four and a half years.
The program, tailored for women over 55 in the Northern Rivers region, helps participants find and sustain safe, affordable housing while addressing financial and social challenges.
Christine worked closely with her caseworker, Ceara, who provided not only individualised practical assistance but also emotional support.
“Ceara was absolutely wonderful, understanding and constantly checking in with me. She encouraged me to apply for housing opportunities and when I found a suitable and affordable rental out of my area Social Futures helped me with moving costs through a government relocation grant and a bond loan,” Christine shares.
With Ceara’s support, Christine finally secured a two-bedroom unit in an over-55s complex, complete with accessibility features that cater to her needs with ramps, rails and a drive-in garage that goes into the house.
“It’s got everything that I could possibly need.”
After years of uncertainty and being constantly on the move from one temporary place to the next, Christine says this new stability has allowed her to focus on her health and connect more with family and friends.
“I feel like I can finally breathe and having my own things around me again is wonderful; I’m starting to feel like it’s really my home and I can rest now and enjoy life more.”
Christine’s experience is not unique. The Mercy Foundation estimates that 110,000 women over 45 are at risk of homelessness in New South Wales alone.
Targeted solutions, including affordable housing, financial education, and support services are urgently needed. Social Futures’ Connecting Home Plus program is a step in the right direction.
“For anyone who may feel lost and alone, or that there is no solution to this rising housing crisis, please know the government has provided assistance through such a wonderful, caring agency as Social Futures. I cannot thank them enough for helping me.”
Connecting Home Plus is a tailored program that supports older women in the Northern Rivers who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. A dedicated team provides one-on-one support to help women to find and keep safe, appropriate housing, while also assisting with financial guidance and community connection.
A range of Social Futures Connecting Home programs provide person centred supports, tailored to the unique vulnerabilities of each life stage.
Call 1800 048 310 or email [email protected] to discuss your options or make a referral.
If you are homeless tonight, please call Link2Home on 1800 152 152 (24/7).
Connecting Home Plus is proudly funded by the NSW Government.
