A homesharing service that aims to improve the quality of life for women aged 55 and over will be trialled in the Wollongong area.
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The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) is currently seeking women aged 55 and over, who feel their current living situation could do more to enable a better quality of life.
Homesharing is essentially an arrangement by which two or more unrelated people share a dwelling, within which each person retains a private space.
TACSI social innovator Carla Clarence said they were seeking to find a group of 12 to 14 women in the Wollongong area that would be willing to undertake a trial homesharing process.
IRT Group is participating in this research with TACSI, with the aim of supporting the development of the homeshare service.
Ms Clarence said it was only being trialled in Wollongong at this stage.
She said they would work with potential participants to ensure women would be matched with suitable housemates "to enhance and build better life experiences as we grow older".
"Homesharing is not a new concept - it's been done all over the world in different ways, shapes and forms," Ms Clarence said.
"What's different about our concept is that it's matching older women together with older women.
"Through the research we've done directly with older women, it's seen as a concept that is actually quite liked for some women.
"The whole purpose of it is built around a lot of statistics about how women, especially in the older age bracket are becoming more and more vulnerable, and that housing is becoming increasingly non-secure for them for a variety of reasons."
Ms Clarence said this homesharing model wasn't a fully-fledged service yet, but the ultimate goal of this trial is to create a homeshare service that gives women access to affordable, safe and secure living situations.
"We are now looking to trial this service and hope to learn from the women who take part about how we can continue to make this service better," she said.
"We are looking for a diverse range of women from all types of backgrounds whose lived experience and involvement can help us turn this prototype into a fully functioning service, with secure access that can change lives and achieve real impact for women."
For more information on the trial, click here.
TACSI formed in 2009, with the aim to find new and better ways to eliminate the inequality and poverty that many people experience.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
