Builder-developer ALAND has drawn back the curtain on its first city-focused new apartment development.

The North Sydney development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a>, is the first time the company has ventured this close to the city, having previously completed thousands of apartments predominantly in Sydney's west, and more recently in Gosford.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> acquired the prime North Sydney site, spanning Walker and Hampden Streets just down the road from the Victoria Cross Metro station, for $240 million in June.

Now they've unveiled the new project, a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments across a 30-level building designed by Rothelowman.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6384]

The Walden will capitalise on the site’s front-row position on the eastern fringe of the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> CBD, which offers uninterrupted Sydney Harbour views stretching from the Sydney Harbour Bridge all the way to Sydney Heads.

The main tower will be flanked by a small four-level amenity building known as The Pavilion, offering exclusive resident-only amenities including a dedicated concierge service, a sauna and private wellness studio, a gymnasium and fitness studio, a resort-style rooftop pool and sundeck.

There will also be a&nbsp;residents’ lounge, private dining and a wine cellar, and co-working facilities with an on-site meeting room and boardroom.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6382]

ALAND Founder Andrew Hrsto said the company knew they could create something "iconic" with The Walden when they saw the site.

&nbsp;

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic – being the last development with a view offering this exceptional.

“We identified the attributes and quality of the site as being perfectly aligned for ALAND – and we feel that this off-market acquisition is a perfect opportunity to showcase our craftmanship and expertise through a truly unique offering."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Hrsto pointed to ALAND’s longstanding development expertise as a significant benefit in delivering a positive outcome for The Walden.

“Being a fully integrated development and construction business with a highly experienced team, we have the benefit of in-house experts across the development spectrum, from acquisitions, design, planning, and construction, to sales, marketing, property management, through to building management.

“As one of Australia’s largest private development and construction groups, we’ve been in operation for 23 years, with a Gold Star iCIRT rating and a 100 per cent delivery success rate across numerous masterplanned and mixed-use projects – and we’re very much looking forward to bringing this expertise to The Walden and contributing to the ongoing revitalisation of North Sydney."

The Walden is the latest development in Sydney to have the 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy by Resilience Insurance, protecting buyers from any structural or waterproofing-related issues for 10 years post-completion.&nbsp;

Demolition of existing structures on The Walden site has already commenced through specialist civil contractor Moits, with the aim of completing preparatory ground works by the end of 2025, ahead of construction commencement in early 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

Joel Robinson

ALAND unveils The Walden, North Sydney's latest luxury apartment development

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/toga-group">TOGA</a> has opened sales for the final building in Macquarie Rise, its latest mixed-use development in Macquarie Park.

Since launching its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/macquarie-rise-122-herring-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Rise</a> in late 2023, TOGA has secured over 125 sales in the Herring Road development, to a range of purchasers, from first home buyers to investors and downsizers. Around 65 per cent of purchasers have been owner-occupiers.

TOGA has now launched a new release of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in the final building, Saunders Rise. Many of the apartments feature multi-purpose rooms and offer views of the surrounding greenery. Also part of the release is a series of&nbsp;sub penthouses housed on the upper floors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89243 project_image_fid=242696]

&nbsp;

“We’re delighted with the ongoing strong interest in our Macquarie Rise development, which is testament to the need for premium housing in this much-loved Sydney suburb,"&nbsp;Allan Vidor AM, Managing Director at TOGA, said.

"We’re proud to be able to offer buyers a unique product that includes luxury amenities, spacious living areas and flexible layouts, designed to suit all kinds of buyers, from young professionals to families and investors.

“We have long been advocates of Macquarie Park, and once Macquarie Rise is complete, TOGA will have built 1,000 apartments in the area, delivering much needed homes within a thriving precinct. It’s great to see the area become renowned for high-quality apartments, proximity to amenities and green spaces."

TOGA, one of Australia’s few Gold Star iCIRT rated developers, is also handling construction of Macquarie Rise. They are on track to complete the building in 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89243 project_image_fid=310789]

Macquarie Rise boasts a prime location, placing residents within immediate reach of Macquarie Centre, Macquarie University, and the newly completed Macquarie University Metro, connecting to the Sydney CBD is just over 20 minutes.

&nbsp;

Macquarie Rise residents also have access to Club Rise, an exclusive, residents only lounge designed by luxury hotel designers Stack Studio, offering an abundance of work and break-out areas, a Pilates studio, a gym, and a karaoke room. As well as these premium amenities Macquarie Rise will also feature an impressive podium top 20m lap pool.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89243 project_image_fid=242695]

“Offering luxury, spacious apartments in a vibrant and well-connected neighbourhood, it’s no surprise that Macquarie Rise remains popular with a range of buyers," said TOGA's General Manager of Sales, Anthony Falas.&nbsp;

"With interest rates tracking downwards, we expect the final apartments to continue to receive high levels of interest.”

Located at 122 Herring Road, Macquarie Park, the development will be delivered in partnership with Baptist Union NSW and Morling College with a value of over $400 million.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=89243]

TOGA launches final stage apartments in Macquarie Rise

Southern Cross Station anchors the western end of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">Melbourne</a>’s CBD, connecting metropolitan and regional rail with tram and bus interchanges in one of the city’s busiest transport corridors.&nbsp;

Just metres away, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a>&nbsp;will place residents in the heart of the city, with immediate access to Spencer Street trams, a growing mix of retail, hospitality and cultural venues, and a neighbourhood evolving into a lively residential precinct.

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/far-east-consortium">Far East Consortium</a>, the 68-level project integrates a sculptural glass tower with the heritage-listed Eliza Tinsley Building on a 2,765 sqm Bourke St site.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=335425]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the development replaces a previously approved scheme for 813 apartments with a refined offering of just over 600 larger-format residences, responding to a growing owner-occupier demand for spacious city living.

The location sits within a dynamic pocket undergoing significant transformation. Marvel Stadium and the Docklands waterfront are less than 10 minutes away on foot, offering both sports and leisure attractions.&nbsp;

Bourke Street Mall, Queen Victoria Market, and the State Library are all within walking distance, while Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne’s oldest park, provides a green escape just to the north.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=335422]

Proximity to some of the city’s largest employers and education hubs, including the courts precinct, legal chambers, RMIT, and major hospitals, makes 640 Bourke Street an appealing residential address for professionals, families and students alike.

Education opportunities span all levels. Nearby, Haileybury City Campus offers private schooling just a short walk from 640 Bourke Street. Just beyond the CBD fringe, Carlton Gardens Primary School, one of Melbourne’s oldest state primary schools, and Docklands Primary School provide convenient government schooling options.

Higher education is equally accessible. RMIT University’s city campus spans multiple buildings just a few blocks away, while the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus is easily reached via tram along Swanston or Elizabeth Streets.

Victoria University’s City Queen campus, focused on law and business, is also close by, positioning 640 Bourke Street within walking distance of three of Melbourne’s major tertiary institutions.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=335426]

The neighbourhood’s retail tapestry continues to evolve into something distinctly local and walkable. Just steps away, Woolworths Metro on Bourke Street ensures that everyday essentials are easily within reach.&nbsp;

For larger shopping trips, Spencer Outlet Centre on Spencer Street and QV Melbourne on the opposite side of the CBD broaden the offering with supermarkets, fashion, dining and specialty stores.

The lane-to-lane vibe unfolds beautifully in nearby arcades and alleys. Hardware Lane, with its European-style red-brick paving and alfresco dining, pulses with jazzy evenings and casual lunches.

A few minutes north, Howey Place and Centre Place offer leafy, boutique-lined lanes where hidden cafés and niche retailers congregate under historic glass-covered cloisters.

Completing this tapestry is the newly opened Mecca “beauty playground” on Bourke Street. Spanning 4,000 sqm over three levels, the flagship blends immersive retail within an art-deco heritage setting.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=509 project_image_fid=335427]

This finely grained network of shops, eateries, arcades and service outlets defines the everyday lifestyle at 640 Bourke Street - further enriched by over 3,000 sqm of resident amenity including a Turkish-inspired pool, gym, co-working rooms and private cinemas.&nbsp;

Apartments are priced between&nbsp;$640,000 and $3.95 million. Off the plan stamp duty concessions available until October 2026. Prospective buyers can visit the on site display gallery which has&nbsp;fully built one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=509]

640 Bourke Street: A heritage address at the heart of Melbourne

Lower North Shore development specialists&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen-group">Abadeen</a>&nbsp;has topped out its new local apartment development,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/northcote-collective-naremburn-2-6-northcote-street-naremburn-nsw-2065">Northcote Collective</a>.&nbsp;

Located in the tightly held suburb of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/naremburn-nsw-2065">Naremburn</a>, Northcote Collective is a collection of just 58 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments designed by award-winning architects Rothelowman.&nbsp;

The building is just a five to 10 minute walk from the heart of Crows Nest and the new&nbsp;St Leonards and Crows Nest Metro stations. Abadeen has also brought doorstep convenience, with a ground-floor retail offering on Northcote Street.

Northcote Collective is being delivered by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/decode">Decode</a> — an iCIRT-rated construction company well regarded in the new development industry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114189 project_image_fid=272840]

“This is an important and exciting moment for Northcote Collective, and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone with our partners, consultants, and future residents,” said Justin Brown, Executive Chairman and Founder of Abadeen.&nbsp;

“From the outset, our vision was to create something truly special for Naremburn — homes that respect the character of the neighbourhood while elevating the standard of Lower North Shore living. With connectivity to transport, retail on the doorstep and a true village lifestyle, this milestone also comes at a perfect time when buyer confidence is returning to the market. I am incredibly proud of our team and of Decode for their dedication in helping us bring this vision to life.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114189 project_image_fid=272865]

The development is two-tiered, with two rooftops for residents. The taller building has an impressive rooftop pool, a rare inclusion in the new Sydney apartment market. The level, with panoramic views, also includes an entertaining terrace with barbecue facilities.

Local downsizers and young professionals are showing the strongest interest in the development, with recent improvements in the property market — supported by three rate cuts in 2025 — boosting borrowing power and buyer confidence.

Auction activity across Sydney surged by almost 30 per cent in recent weeks, with clearance rates above 70 per cent — signalling a renewed wave of buyer demand.

Northcote Collective will welcome buyers in 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=114189]

Abadeen tops out Northcote Collective in Naremburn

Sunshine Coast-based <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/devcon-property-group">Devcon Property Group</a> has acquired one of Maroochydore’s most prominent development sites for $12 million unlocking the potentialfor a mixed-use project in the Cotton Tree precinct.

&nbsp;

The 4,178 sqm site at 41–43 Aerodrome Road—well known locally as the former home to one of Australia’s last Sizzler restaurants—was sold via an off-market expressions of interest campaign by Colliers agents Nick Dowling and Baydn Dodds. More than 70 targeted buyer groups were approached, resulting in multiple competitive offers for the property.

Devcon Property Group Managing Director Michael Kain said the acquisition was a strategic move in line with the company’s focus on delivering high-quality projects in prime coastal locations.&nbsp;

“We’re excited about the possibilities this site, in one of the Sunshine Coast’s most iconic beachside &nbsp;communities, offers for a broad range of development outcomes,” Kain said.

“Its location, ocean view potential, and proximity to the Maroochydore CBD and beach make it an &nbsp;outstanding development prospect. Our plans are to refurbish the existing building and then review &nbsp;development options for the remainder of the site.”&nbsp;

<img alt="Aerodrome Rd site overlooking Beach (Large)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a29dc4ed-68c1-4bec-a4fc-283063dcde1e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Aerodrome%20Rd%20site%20overlooking%20Beach%20%28Large%29.jpg?VersionId=b0WxJWevmLoAfCP4YvGImZpR3rSCJJ9L" />

Colliers Special Projects Manager Baydn Dodds said the sale reflected the ongoing strength of the &nbsp;Sunshine Coast’s development site market, particularly for projects capable of achieving water views. &nbsp;

“Sites of this scale, in walkable beachside locations with ocean views, are tightly held and continue to attract significant interest from both local and national developers,” Baydn Dodds said. &nbsp;

“Holding a prominent position as the former home to one of Australia’s last Sizzler restaurants and more recently occupied by Rashays, the prime site is located just 150 metres from Maroochydore Beach.&nbsp;

“With stunning ocean view potential, located in one of the Sunshine Coast’s best known iconic &nbsp;beachside communities, within steps of shops, cafes and the beach it is no surprise that there was strong interest in the site. The transaction highlights the ongoing depth of demand for well-located &nbsp;mixed-use sites across the Sunshine Coast.”&nbsp;

Colliers Sunshine Coast Managing Director Nick Dowling said the transaction reinforced the &nbsp;Sunshine Coast’s status as one of Australia’s most active development markets.&nbsp;

“The combination of strong population growth, lifestyle appeal, and infrastructure investment is &nbsp;driving demand for quality development opportunities,” Nick Dowling said. &nbsp;

“The Sunshine Coast is one of only three markets nationally to record an increase in crane numbers, &nbsp;reflecting the strength of the region’s construction pipeline.&nbsp;

“Opportunities like this are rare and continue to generate strong buyer interest in the region.”&nbsp;

The Sunshine Coast development market is booming, with several high-profile developers like Cube Developments, Gardner Vaughan Group, and RCQ, planning developments in the region.

Devcon buys Sunshine Coast’s former Sizzler site for new apartment development

Homelessness

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EXPERT OBSERVATION 
The stereotype of a homeless person – those living in tents or sleeping in parks or doorways – is just the visible tip of the much larger crisis of homelessness in Australia.
For every one of about 8,000 “rough sleepers” there about 14 others staying in temporary accommodation or with others in severely crowded dwellings. That’s a total of more than <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/census-population-and-housing-estimating-homelessness/latest-release" target="_blank">116,000 homeless Australians</a>, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics census data.
About 60% are under the age of 35, though the number of homeless aged 55 and older has been steadily increasing. About a quarter are women and children fleeing <a href="https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2008-12/apo-nid2882.pdf" target="_blank">domestic violence</a>.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2020/DEC/1/homelessness.png" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge</a>.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/DEC/1/homelessness.png" alt="">
The causes of homelessness are complex. The stereotype is that it involves mental illness and substance addiction. But the more common denominators are poverty, unemployment and a lack of affordable adequate housing.
Whatever the cause, research by myself and colleagues for the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute proposes a path forward to reduce, and even eliminate, homelessness in Australia.
To do so requires moving away from treating the problem in an uncoordinated manner at the point of crisis and investing in an integrated system that prioritises prevention, fast rehousing and an adequate supply of affordable long-term housing.
A historical legacy
Australia’s existing approach to dealing with homelessness is the legacy of a response originating in the 19th century, long before the advent of the modern welfare state, relying on charitable institutions to pick up the pieces of an economic system failing to care for the most vulnerable.
This has resulted in a somewhat chaotic system of small-scale and often disconnected services that are funded to only put a band-aid on the problem. It is mainly oriented towards crisis responses, with limited resources devoted to responding to homelessness once it has occurred, often only providing temporary relief from homelessness.
Federal, state and territory governments provide about <a href="/news">A$250 million a year</a> in funding to the 1,500 not-for-profit “specialist homelessness services” – organisations such as Launch Housing and Vincent Care – to provide support services and short-term accommodation in refuges, hostels, motels and caravan parks.
But this is insufficient to achieve the aim of even providing temporary accommodation to all those in need. Homeless services turn away <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/housing-assistance/people-turned-away-from-government-funded-speciali/contents/summary" target="_blank">almost 60%</a> of those who ask for help. People instead have to rely on the kindness of family and friends, or sleep in their cars or on the street, while they wait to receive assistance. There is no statutory duty to provide assistance to homeless people in Australia.
The status quo is an expensive and unsatisfactory approach. We can do much better.
Housing comes first
An emerging trend internationally is to reorient homelessness service systems away from a largely crisis response and towards prevention and long-term solutions.
The key is a “Housing First” approach, investing resources into first getting people into long-term accommodation, and then providing support to address the reasons they found themselves homeless in the first place.
Once housing is secured, relevant support workers can then support clients with particular needs, from preparing for employment, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, negotiating the legal system arising from domestic and family violence, and psychiatric or psychological counselling.
Evidence to the superiority of the “Housing First” approach comes from Norway. <a href="/news">Over the past 12 years</a> the number of homeless Norwegians has fallen by more than 35%. This compares with Australia’s approach, which <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/census-population-and-housing-estimating-homelessness/latest-release#key-findings" target="_blank">in the past 20 years</a> has managed to only marginally reduce the number of rough sleepers while other categories of homelessness have continued to rise.
We need an integrated strategy
A clear deficiency in Australia’s approach to homelessness has been the lack of any integrated national strategy and leadership. This means funding arrangements in states and territories are piecemeal and inadequate.
The first step in moving to a “Housing First” approach is coordinated federal and state funding for an adequate supply of affordable and social housing.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2020/DEC/1/Public%20housing%20dwellings.png" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge</a>.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/DEC/1/Public%20housing%20dwellings.png" alt="">
As we outline in our new report <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/347" target="_blank">Ending homelessness in Australia: A redesigned homelessness service system</a>, an integrated national strategy would also include an enhanced role for universal welfare services such as primary health services, schools and colleges to assist people at risk of homelessness.
They would have a duty to prevent homelessness when possible, assisting clients to maintain their existing housing or to access new housing. Where this is not possible, they would refer clients to specialist housing services for assistance finding crisis accommodation, and then long-term housing.
In this system, providing crisis accommodation would be the solution of last resort.
That affordable housing is the first step in solving homelessness may seem startlingly obvious. But, counterintuitively, that’s not the premise of how the current system works.
We cannot stress enough how much an adequate planned supply of long-term affordable and social housing that is appropriate, secure and safe is vital to any successful attempt to end homelessness. 
ANGELA SPINNEY is a Research Fellow at the Swinburne University of Technology
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Eliminating most homelessness is achievable: Angela Spinney

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Older women have been recognised as the fastest-growing group of homeless people in Australia in recent years.
Yet until now we have not known exactly how many older women are at risk of homelessness. Our research, released today, finds about 240,000 women aged 55 or older and another 165,000 women aged 45-54 are at risk of homelessness.
The startling data from our research give us a much better picture of the scale of the problem. We also quantify the impacts of the various factors that may increase women’s risk of becoming homeless.
Effective policy is grounded in quantifying the nature and complexity of issues. To date, a limited but <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/age-discrimination/publications/older-womens-risk-homelessness-background-paper-2019" target="_blank">growing number</a> of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.aag.asn.au/documents/item/2234" target="_blank">studies</a> have highlighted the experiences of older women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. But few studies quantified the numbers at risk and the factors that increase the risk.
<h2>What puts women at risk? 
</h2>
Older people are generally considered to be at less risk of homelessness because of their <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/home-ownership-and-housing-tenure" target="_blank">higher rates of home ownership</a>. But increasingly <a href="https://cepar.edu.au/resources-videos/research-briefs/housing-ageing-australia-nest-and-nest-egg" target="_blank">unaffordable housing</a> has added to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/home-ownership-now-the-great-divider-of-australian-society-20190919-p52syz" target="_blank">concerns</a> about the circumstances and living situations of older people who do not own homes, have limited wealth and savings and do not have the benefit of living in social housing. These households rely on the private rental market and are at considerable risk of <a href="https://www.anglicare.asn.au/research-advocacy/the-rental-affordability-snapshot/docs/default-source/default-document-library/rental-affordability-snapshot-2020" target="_blank">housing affordability stress</a> and hence homelessness.
To examine risk profiles, we constructed an empirical model of risk of homelessness since the 2007-09 Global Financial Crisis using data from the <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/hilda" target="_blank">Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey</a>. The modelling included people who hold a mortgage or pay rent in private or public housing and are aged 45 or older.
This work found older women are more likely to be at risk of homelessness if they have one or more of the following characteristics:
• have been at risk before
• are not employed full-time
• are an immigrant from a non-English-speaking country
• are in private rental housing
• would have difficulty raising emergency funds
• are Indigenous
• are a lone-person household
• are a lone parent (but little evidence for those never married).
We estimated these profiles using a statistical model to analyse the relationship between homelessness risk and the characteristics of interest. We controlled for other characteristics that are likely to influence the risk of becoming homeless but which were not the focus of the study.
<h2>Risk factors compound each other</h2>
Multiple factors compound the risk of being homeless. While noting sampling limitations (small samples in subgroups of the data and annual volatility), the HILDA data for the post-GFC period suggest:
<ul>
<li>
for women aged 55-64 in a private rental, about 28% are likely to be at risk
</li>
<li>
for women who are also not employed full-time the percentage at risk increases to about 34%
</li>
<li>
for those who are also a lone parent the risk rises to over 65%
</li>
<li>
the risk increases to over 85% if, in addition, they have experienced at least one prior occurrence of being at risk.
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/349837/original/file-20200728-23-15z661u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/349837/original/file-20200728-23-15z661u.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Bar chart shows how a women's risk of homeless increases with each extra risk factor"></a>
Data: HILDA Survey, Author provided
Clearly, a person’s propensity to be at risk of homelessness is cumulative over time.
<h2>Why the numbers at risk will grow</h2>
Our estimates of the numbers of people at risk are accurate to within plus or minus 10%. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3236.0" target="_blank">population projections</a>, it is clear that, without changes to policy, these numbers are likely to increase due to one important factor. The model shows a lone-person household is a dominant factor in increasing the likely risk of homelessness.
Lone-person households are expected to comprise 24-27% of all households by 2041. This equates to between 3.0 and 3.5 million Australians (of all ages). Female lone-person households are projected to increase by between 27.6% and 58.8% (ABS 2019b).
Australia has made <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-11/flat-wages-soaring-house-prices-australians-lifetime-renting/11898122" target="_blank">little policy progress on housing affordability</a>. We also have a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/306" target="_blank">severe shortage of social housing</a> to meet demand. This points to the need to pursue other avenues to improve the lives of older low-income households.
The Ageing on the Edge Older Persons Homelessness Prevention Project – funded by the <a href="https://www.eqt.com.au/philanthropy/jo-and-jr-wicking-trust" target="_blank">JO and JR Wicking Trust</a> and administered by Housing for the Aged Action Group (<a href="https://www.oldertenants.org.au/haag/about" target="_blank">HAAG</a>) – has worked over the past five years to give voice to these older women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The project works with interested agencies (government and non-government) to identify and promote early intervention and prevention strategies and to lobby for government policy change.
Of course, there is one simple answer to achieving long-term outcomes that allow people the basics of a decent older age: an appropriate affordable home.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/142906/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/debbie-faulkner-1137108" target="_blank">Debbie Faulkner</a>, Senior Research Fellow, UniSA Business, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180" target="_blank">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laurence-lester-1139402" target="_blank">Laurence Lester</a>, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Housing, Urban and Regional Planning, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119" target="_blank">University of Adelaide</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/400-000-women-over-45-are-at-risk-of-homelessness-in-australia-142906" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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400,000 women over 45 are at risk of homelessness in Australia

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The Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH) has launched a sector wide lobbying campaign, Homes Beyond Covid, to raise awareness of the urgent needs of people who have now been temporarily sheltered in response to COVID-19. 
Without urgent action thousands of people who were sleeping rough and have now been temporarily sheltered are at risk of being forced back into homelessness because of a lack of options. 
Throughout winter, the AAEH is calling for collaborative action through the campaign to find permanent housing and support for everyone sleeping rough or in motels placements due to COVID-19.
AAEH chief executive officer David Pearson says that this campaign shows that the scale of homelessness in Australia is both preventable and solvable. 
“In the first eight weeks of this pandemic alone, amongst the communities that the AAEH works with, over 5,000 people who were sleeping rough or at risk of sleeping rough have been temporarily sheltered,” said Mr Pearson. 
“Given there were 8,200 people sleeping rough at the last census, this represents one of most significant homelessness responses we’ve ever seen in Australia, but as we know this crisis is not over yet. That’s why we need urgent action from governments – homelessness can be solved by policy.” 
The campaign coincides with the organisation’s 7-point policy plan and Submission to the Inquiry into the Homelessness in Australia and start of Inquiry hearings in Canberra to not just recover from COVID-19 but to ensure we see an end to rough sleeping homelessness. 
AAEH’s chair Karyn Walsh says that homelessness is as much a health policy issue as it is infrastructure and social services.
“People sleeping rough are an incredibly vulnerable health population, and if they get COVID-19 it will not just be bad for community transmission, it would be fatal for many of them. The best prescription we can provide for people sleeping rough as we recover from this health crisis is housing with support or simply a home – not a hotel room,” said Ms Walsh. 
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Australian Alliance to End Homelessness launch lobbying campaign

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Rough sleepers across NSW are to benefit from the largest housing response dedicated to rough sleepers in NSW history with a program to secure homes rapidly from the private rental market underway.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the $36 million Together Home project would deliver stable housing and wrap-around support for hundreds of people experiencing homelessness.
“Part of this initiative is about finding people a place to call home, but the critical next step is supporting them with the services they need improve their health and wellbeing, and to rebuild their lives,” Mr Ward said.
“Our housing, homelessness and health providers will be working around the clock in coming months to help people take the first steps towards breaking the cycle of disadvantage and staying off the streets for good.”
Together Home will be delivered by the NSW Government, in collaboration with 19 community housing providers, specialist homelessness services and healthcare workers. 
The NSW Government has invested more than $70 million to prevent and respond to homelessness during the pandemic, on top of the more than $1 billion invested this financial year in housing and homelessness support.
The following Community Housing Providers will help deliver Together Home:
<ul>
<li>        Argyle Community Housing – South Western Sydney, Murrumbidgee, Far West and Western NSW</li>
<li>        Bridge Housing – Sydney, South Eastern Sydney and Northern Sydney</li>
<li>        Community Housing Limited – Mid North Coast, Northern NSW and New England</li>
<li>        Compass Housing Services – Hunter Central Coast</li>
<li>        Evolve Housing – South Western Sydney, Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains</li>
<li>        Homes North – Mid North Coast, Northern NSW and New England</li>
<li>        Homes Out West – Murrumbidgee, Far West and Western NSW</li>
<li>        Housing Plus – Murrumbidgee, Far West and Western NSW</li>
<li>        Hume Community Housing – South Western Sydney</li>
<li>        Link Housing – Sydney, South Eastern Sydney and Northern Sydney</li>
<li>        Metro Community Housing – Sydney, South Easter Sydney and Northern Sydney</li>
<li>        Mission Australia Housing – Mid North Coast, Northern NSW and New England</li>
<li>        North Coast Community Housing – Mid North Coast, Northern NSW and New England</li>
<li>        Pacific Link Housing – Hunter Central Coast</li>
<li>        Southern Cross Community Housing – Illawarra Shoalhaven and Southern NSW</li>
<li>        St George Community Housing – Sydney, South Eastern Sydney and Northern Sydney</li>
<li>        Illawarra Community Housing Trust – Illawarra Shoalhaven, Southern NSW</li>
<li>        Wentworth Community Housing – Western Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains</li>
<li>        Women’s Housing Company – Sydney, South Eastern Sydney Northern Sydney and South West Sydney.</li>
</ul>
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Community housing providers to assist NSW rough sleepers 

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GUEST OBSERVER
The COVID-19 pandemic has opened fault lines in social, economic and health-care policy in Australia. One area in which all three converge is homelessness.
It’s almost impossible to practise self-isolation and good hygiene if you’re living on the streets or moving from place to place. This puts homeless people at higher risk of both catching the disease and transmitting it to others.
At the beginning of the pandemic, governments recognised this problem and responded by <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-25/homeless-put-up-in-four-star-hotel-during-coronavirus/12176942">housing homeless people in hotels</a>.
But we need to act now to ensure these people aren’t forced back onto the streets as the pandemic recedes.
This is particularly important given we’re worried about the mental health fallout of the pandemic. Evidence shows homelessness and mental illness are inextricably linked.
Homelessness in Australia
The initiative to house the homeless in hotels has been targeted mostly at “rough sleepers”, of whom there are <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-25/homeless-put-up-in-four-star-hotel-during-coronavirus/12176942">more than 8,000</a> in Australia.
But people who sleep on the streets make up only a tiny proportion of the Australians <a href="https://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/61102520832D348ECA257A6F0012AF91/%24File/2049055001_2012.pdf">we consider to be homeless</a>. Homeless people also include those living in unstable or substandard accommodation, for example.
In 2018-19 <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/homelessness-and-homelessness-services">more than 290,000 Australians</a> – roughly 1.2% of the population – accessed specialist homelessness services.
So this is only a temporary solution to a national emergency, and addresses only the tip of the iceberg.
Mental illness and beyond
At least <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mental-health-services/mental-health-services-in-australia/report-contents/specialist-homelessness-services">one in three</a> homeless people have a mental illness.
Homelessness is often a <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/mental-health/draft">consequence of mental illness</a>, especially of the more severe kinds that involve hallucinations, confusion, mood swings, depression and intense anxiety.
It’s also a consequence of family violence, which itself <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/07/domestic-abuse-victims-more-likely-to-suffer-mental-illness-study">increases the risk of poor mental health</a> in children and adults.
But homelessness can also be a <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/mental-health/draft">cause of mental illness</a>, through its associations with poverty, unemployment, emotional stress, food insecurity, discrimination, exploitation, loneliness and exposure to violence, crime and drugs.
The pandemic has momentarily lifted the cover on homelessness as a widespread and, so far, intractable social, economic and health problem.
It’s not only a reservoir of private suffering for those driven to the social margins through unstable or inadequate accommodation.
Homelessness also has <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/rights-and-freedoms/publications/homelessness-human-rights-issue">broad social impacts</a>, including lost productivity, adverse effects on young people’s health, education and well-being, and increased consumption of mental health services and criminal justice resources, among others.
 
Next steps
What will happen to the homeless people currently housed in hotels <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-28/advocates-call-for-long-term-solution-to-homelessness-in-sa/12194210">as the pandemic subsides</a>?
As catastrophic an event as COVID-19 has been, it has created a unique opportunity to improve the long-neglected and critically poor state of social housing in Australia.
The Community Housing Industry Association recently put forward a strong economic argument under the <a href="https://www.communityhousing.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200197-SHARP-Final-ReportSGS.pdf?x59559">Social Housing Acceleration and Renovation Program (SHARP) proposal</a> for national investment in building 30,000 social housing units and upgrading existing housing.
Meanwhile, the <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/mental-health/draft">Productivity Commission draft report on mental illness</a> and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) have put forward robust recommendations concerning housing policy for people with mental illness.
The Productivity Commission and AHURI both advocate increased investment in low-cost, secure and good-quality accommodation, linked where necessary with suitable support services.
Many jurisdictions have excellent programs that help people with mental illness to live independently, such as the <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/Pages/hasi.aspx#:%7E:text=The%20Housing%20and%20Accommodation%20Support,way%20that%20they%20want%20to.">Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative</a> in NSW. But these need to be scaled up dramatically.
Affordable social housing combined with government transfer payments (such as pensions, Centrelink and disability payments) sufficient to meet basic living costs would be a major boon to mental health in this country.
Both the Productivity Commission and AHURI highlight <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/mental-health/draft">bridging the gaps in social housing</a> could promote recovery from mental illness, enabling greater social participation and enhancing well-being. It’s likely this approach would also prevent many cases of mental illness before they take hold.
In the long term this would far exceed the benefits flowing from <a href="https://www.greghunt.com.au/covid-19-48-1-million-for-national-mental-health-and-wellbeing-pandemic-response-plan/">piecemeal handouts for clinical services</a>, which is the present norm in addressing the mental health fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Home improvements or reducing homelessness?
Last week the Australian government announced <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-03/government-coronavirus-construction-stimulus-renovations-25k/12317786">HomeBuilder grants</a> of A$25,000 for owner-occupiers for certain works on their homes. This funding will be going to people who already have homes and can afford substantial renovations.
There is a strong case for making similar investments in housing the homeless, which would <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-7492-8">substantially benefit the mental health</a> of our most disadvantaged citizens.
Now is the time for a nationally coordinated effort by federal and state governments to institute economic, social and health policies to address the nexus between homelessness and mental health, and the poverty that feeds into both.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vaughan-j-carr-2977">Vaughan J Carr</a>, Professor of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales; Adjunct Professor, Monash University, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anthony-jorm-15032">Anthony Jorm</a>, Professor emeritus, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-melbourne-722">University of Melbourne</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-australia-really-wants-to-tackle-mental-health-after-coronavirus-we-must-take-action-on-homelessness-139840">original article</a>.
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If Australia wants to tackle mental health after coronavirus, we must fix homelessness

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An independent advocate for the preventing and ending of homelessness in Australia is hosting an online forum on April 7, 2020 from 1:30 to 3:00pm AEST.
<a href="https://aaeh.org.au" target="_blank">The Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH)</a> believes, "Despite the common misconception to the contrary, the scale of homelessness in Australia is both preventable and solvable."
AAEH specifically works with local communities at all levels to ensure everyone has access to safe and sustainable housing services and that any incidents of homelessness that do occur are rare, brief and non-recurring. 
The free online Zoom webinar, 'Rough Sleeping Responses to COVID-19 Forum' will include social sector leaders across the country to discuss what steps need to be taken to support Australians experiencing homelessness in this health and economic crisis. 
Key speakers include: 
<ul>
<li>David Pearson, Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (Host)</li>
<li>Paul Flatau, Director Centre for Social Impact, University of Western Australia (WA)</li>
<li>Karyn Walsh, CEO, Micah Projects, Home for Good Service (QLD)</li>
<li>Kim Holmes, Neami National, Street to Home Service (SA)</li>
<li>Andrew D'Archy, Launch Housing, Getting Housing (Vic)</li>
<li>Shane Jakupec, Neami National, Street to Home Service (NSW)</li>
<li>Jed Donoghue, Housing and Homelessness, Salvation Army (Tas)</li>
<li>Samantha Henry, Senior Manager, Northside Community Service (ACT)</li>
<li>John Berger, Executive Officer, WAAEH (WA)</li>
</ul>
They will take part in the forum, identifying and discussing what actions are being taken and what else needs to be done to better respond to this unprecedented crisis. 
The forum will also be an opportunity for AAEH to launch its <a href="https://aaeh.org.au/assets/docs/20200120-POLICY-PROPOSAL_Leaving-no-one-Behind.pdf" target="_blank">Health and Homelessness paper: 'Leaving no one Behind'</a>.
<a href="https://events.humanitix.com/aaeh-rough-sleeping-and-covid-19-forum" target="_blank">Registration</a> for the webinar is free, and connection details will be emailed to registered attendees. 
 
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