"Every woman, gender-diverse person, and their families deserve a safe place to call home"
YWCA Australia, a non-profit young women’s organisation, is urging political leaders to prioritise gender-responsive housing policies in the lead-up to the 2025 federal election, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the housing crisis on women, gender-diverse people, and their families.
“Every woman, gender-diverse person, and their families deserve a safe place to call home and the opportunity for an equal future in Australia,” said Michelle Phillips (pictured above), group chief executive of YWCA Australia.
However, she noted that systemic barriers, economic disparities, and gender-based violence continue to leave many without secure housing.
The YWCA, which has provided housing support for more than 140 years, offers nearly 6,000 people over 125,000 nights of stable and affordable accommodation each year. Phillips said that their frontline work reveals the “flow-on effects of housing insecurity,” making it crucial for all political parties to commit to long-term solutions.
According to YWCA Australia, family and domestic violence remains the leading cause of homelessness for women in the country. Economic challenges such as the gender pay gap, limited superannuation, career interruptions, and unpaid care responsibilities further limit access to stable housing.
Young women aged 25 to 34 represent the largest group seeking homelessness services, while older women also face increasing risks of housing insecurity. The challenges are even greater for First Nations women, marginalised communities, LGBTIQA+SB individuals, and people with disabilities.
In response, YWCA Australia has launched the Safe Homes, Equal Futures campaign, advocating for a bipartisan commitment to gender-responsive housing policies.
“The cost of inaction is too high,” Phillips said, adding that without urgent intervention, women and gender-diverse people will continue to face difficult choices between unsafe housing and homelessness.
She said that solutions are within reach, calling on policymakers to invest in long-term housing and homelessness initiatives that prioritise gender equity.
“This federal election is a critical opportunity to make this a reality,” Phillips said. “Safe homes are the foundation of equal futures. With the right policies, we can deliver them.”
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