Every organisation seeks to contribute to change and impact. In the context of social change, where influences are many and outcomes are not straightforward, what’s the problem we are addressing, what’s our role, and what’s the impact and change we want to achieve? The Theory of Change is big picture, future-focussed, and sets up the how (the Strategic Plan).
A Theory of Change starts with the organisational WHY – the problem we are responding to, and our role in making a difference. It tells a story of change, identifying short, medium and long-term outcomes for impact.
Young women, women and gender diverse people disproportionately experience housing stress and instability, challenges in accessing safe and affordable housing, and the risks of homelessness. In 2021-22, the majority of people accessing specialist homelessness services were women (60%). Almost two-thirds of adults aged 25-34 experiencing homelessness were women. While the numbers of women aged 55 years and over were small (about 8% of all female clients), they were increasing at a greater rate than men aged 55 years and over (AIHW 2022).
In 2021-2022, 37% of clients accessing specialist homelessness services had experienced family and domestic violence – of those aged over 18 years, 76% were women and nearly half were living as a single parent (AIHW 2022). Women were more likely to present with children, be housed privately (including temporary and unsafe accommodation), with safe and secure housing an immediate priority. They are twice as likely as men not to receive assistance.
The challenges are compounded for First Nations women, women with disability, migrants and asylum seekers, and people of marginalised genders, due to lack of appropriate housing and supports, economic disadvantage and institutional and structural discrimination.
Insecure and temporary tenure, overcrowding, an unsafe environment and lack of choice and control over living conditions, may all render a woman effectively homeless. Our 2020 research with women on low to moderate incomes across regional Australia found: 1 in 5 said their housing was not suitable for them; 1 in 3 who live in unsuitable housing did not feel safe in their home; 2 in 3 were experiencing housing stress; 1 in 8 had been homeless in the last 5 years, and 1 in 4 of them hid their homelessness from others. One in 5 knew at least one woman who is currently homeless (YWCA National Housing, 2020).
In 2017, there were an estimated 1.3 million households in housing need (unable to access market housing and households requiring rent assistance to avoid rental stress). This is projected to rise to 1.7 million households by 2025 (AHURI, 2017). The lack of safe, secure, accessible and affordable housing has been identified as a key issue in blocking exits from crisis and temporary accommodation and specialist homelessness assistance.
Existing supply is often limited by traditional typologies that do not cater to the needs of women and gender diverse people, and may not be appropriately located with connections to community and required social supports.
Making young women’s leadership and women’s housing our priority for gender equity in Australia.
A future where gender equality is a reality.
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