……. Photo: Blue Mountains Food Services
Across Australia, more older people are being pushed into housing insecurity and homelessness
For many, this isn’t the result of one single event. It’s the accumulation of rising rents, low vacancy rates, fixed incomes, poor health, relationship breakdowns, limited superannuation, social isolation, and increasingly complex systems that are difficult to navigate without support.
In communities across the country, older Australians are couch surfing, living in their cars, remaining in unsafe housing, or being forced to leave the communities they’ve called home for decades. Many are losing not just housing, but access to healthcare, local support networks, and the community connections that help people age safely and with dignity.
To help respond to this growing issue, StreetSmart has distributed $45,000 through our Ageing Well Grants Round, supporting nine grassroots organisations across regional and metropolitan communities in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.
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What this means for ageing Australians in need of support
These grants support practical, local responses that recognise the complexity of housing insecurity later in life.
From emergency relief and tenancy support to community meals, housing advocacy, mobility upgrades and affordable housing projects, these organisations are helping older Australians stay connected, safe, and supported.
In the Blue Mountains, Blue Mountains Food Services will use funding to reduce meal costs and provide travel support for older residents experiencing food insecurity and social isolation. For many participants, the weekly community meals program is their only social connection outside of medical appointments.
……. Photo: Connect Victoria
In Bellingen and the Nambucca region of New South Wales, Housing Matters Action Group will continue to support older residents navigating increasingly inaccessible rental systems, helping people overcome barriers such as limited digital literacy and a lack of access to informal housing networks.
Other grants are supporting direct interventions that help people remain housed. St Kilda Community Housing will use funding to reduce rent arrears for vulnerable older tenants at risk of eviction, while Older Women’s Network NSW will provide practical support for women trying to rebuild stability while managing housing insecurity, including transport assistance, referral support, and small but critical day-to-day costs.
Importantly, this grants round also highlights the role local organisations play in creating long-term housing solutions and safer communities for older people.
35 years of housing
Rotary Golden Wheel Villas was established to address the growing housing challenges facing older pensioners, particularly women living alone. Today, the village provides affordable housing for 23 older residents on the Gold Coast.
This grant will support vital maintenance works, helping keep these homes safe, secure and fit for purpose.
Bringing Affordable Housing Back Into Use
With affordable housing in short supply across the Gladstone region, The Shelter Collective is redeveloping 65 vacant aged care units into homes for people at risk of homelessness.
This grant will help keep the project on track, funding renovations that will bring more affordable housing back into the community.
Helping Older Residents Stay Connected
Many residents at Wongabeena Sarina Aged Housing rely on walking frames or mobility scooters and face challenges including financial hardship, reduced mobility and social isolation.
This grant will fund new and upgraded pathways throughout the village, helping residents safely access shared community spaces, stay connected with neighbours, and improve access for emergency services.
These are practical responses to a growing crisis. But they are also reminders that homelessness later in life is not inevitable.
With the right support, local knowledge, and flexible funding, grassroots organisations can intervene early, reduce harm, and help older Australians remain connected to their communities.
At StreetSmart, we know that small, targeted grants can make a significant difference for organisations responding to complex challenges with limited resources.
We’re proud to support these community-led responses and grateful to the supporters who help make this work possible.
| Organisation | State | Grant Amount |
| Blue Mountains Food Services | NSW | $5,000.00 |
| Connect Victoria Park | WA | $5,000.00 |
| Evergreen Alliance | VIC | $5,000.00 |
| Housing Matters Action Group | NSW | $5,000.00 |
| Older Women’s Network NSW | NSW | $5,000.00 |
| Rotary Golden Wheel Villas | QLD | $5,000.00 |
| St Kilda Community Housing | VIC | $5,000.00 |
| The Shelter Collective | QLD | $5,000.00 |
| Wongabeena Sabrina Aged Housing | QLD | $5,000.00 |
| Total Grants | $45,000.00 |
Our commitment to supporting frontline specialist homelessness services goes beyond our grant-making work. We empower and enable services as much as we can through our advocacy, and we also listen to them.
We’ve known for a long time that homelessness workers navigate trauma, housing instability, family violence, mental health crises and deep financial distress every day.
So, we ran a Frontline Staff Wellbeing Survey to listen, understand and learn more about what’s happening across the sector, and it helped inform this round of grants.
You can read the report and a little more on how we’re responding here.
Thanks to our donors and supporters, $45,000 has been distributed to 9 grassroots organisations, supporting older Australians and ensuring they have the resources and care they need.
We’re always keen to connect with philanthropists, trusts, foundations and companies looking to partner for meaningful impact. If that sounds like you, reach out to partners@streetsmartaustralia.org.
