Australia’s housing system is failing women and is on track to get worse, new report shows

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Melbourne, 18 June 2026

A report from Australians Investing In Women (AIIW) and Per Capita released today shows the staggering rate at which women are being locked out of the housing market and warns it will only get worse if left unaddressed.

The report, Closing the Gender Gap in Housing: A roadmap for change, shows there is clear gender gap in Australia’s housing system.

Younger women and children have overtaken women over 55 as the fastest growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness. The report also reveals it takes women three years longer to save a deposit than men, and that men are 22% more likely to own an investment property than women.

Women account for 55% of social housing residents and 59% of people accessing Specialist Homelessness Services.

Julie Reilly OAM, Chief Executive Officer of AIIW, says Australia’s housing crisis gets plenty of attention, but that the gender dimension is too often ignored.

“Australians across the country are deeply feeling the effects of our unprecedented housing crisis, but in reality, the housing crisis is not experienced equally.

“To treat the housing crisis as gender neutral is to actively ignore structural factors shaping housing outcomes, including the gender pay gap, lower retirement savings, caring responsibilities and the ongoing impacts of gender-based violence.

“Through meaningful investment and awareness of the structural challenges women face to get a foot in the housing market, we can design a housing system that works for everyone. That’s real equity,” says Ms Reilly.

Developed in partnership with independent think tank Per Capita, the roadmap draws on three years of research and consultation with more than 100 stakeholders across government, philanthropy, impact investment, housing and community sectors nationwide.

Among its recommendations, the roadmap calls for:

A net increase of at least 170,000 social homes by 2030, restoring social housing to 5% of Australia’s housing stock.
Stronger incentives for housing projects that demonstrate gender-responsive design and delivery.
Improved collection and publication of gender-based housing data.
Greater use of lived experience and co-design in housing policy, funding and planning decisions.

The roadmap also highlights the investment case for action. Research referenced in the report shows that single-parent households experience more stable tenancies than any other social housing cohort, while family housing often attracts lower maintenance costs and generates significant long-term social returns.

Dr Kate Raynor, Director of the Centre for Equitable Housing at Per Capita, said the roadmap provides one of the most comprehensive examinations of gender and housing undertaken in Australia.

“Women make up a significant and growing segment of the homeless population. We can’t ignore this when developing and implementing a fairer housing system.

“For Australia to have a housing system that works for everyone, we must address the underlying issues that make it unfair. A gendered problem requires a gendered solution.

“Governments, planners, developers and investors have the unique opportunity to make an equitable housing system through practical, evidence-based solutions.

“We urge them not to waste this opportunity,” says Dr Raynor.

The roadmap includes tailored action plans for government, philanthropic organisations, impact investors and housing providers, alongside examples of successful initiatives already delivering results across Australia.

ENDS

A Roadmap for a Gender-equal Housing System in Australia is available here.

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