Media releases

$1.5 million to ease homelessness for older residents

Published 24 May 2016

The City of Sydney is supporting a new aged care facility that will help break the cycle of older residents experiencing homelessness.

A $1.5 million grant has been awarded to not-for-profit group HammondCare to assist in the construction of a facility offering affordable aged care for the inner-city homeless population.

Located in Darlinghurst, the residential aged care home will house up to 50 people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Providing long-term, specialist high-level care for people with complex needs, the five-storey facility will help residents regain independence and find stability in their lives.

In 2015, the City’s Homelessness Unit found 15 per cent of people sleeping rough or in short-term accommodation were over 55 years old. The number of people experiencing homelessness in later life is growing significantly, and an increasing number are older women.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said there was a real need for long-term, stable accommodation and care for older men and women in the greater Sydney area.

“The City of Sydney is committed to supporting older members of our community, especially people facing challenging care needs and who might otherwise fall through the cracks,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We’re supporting this important new facility to ensure disadvantaged people are not discriminated against and are treated with kindness and respect.”

HammondCare has secured a long-term lease of land at 118A Darlinghurst Road, next to St John’s Anglican Church, and expects the new facility to be completed in 2017.

The inner-city and Darlinghurst areas have some of the highest numbers of aged homeless men and women anywhere in Australia.

A recent City of Sydney survey found that:

  • 100 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in Sydney are living below the poverty line;
  • 35 per cent reported having a disability;
  • 53 per cent reported a mental health issue;
  • 35 per cent require housing with intensive support;
  • 13 per cent receive no form of income.
HammondCare’s facility will provide both private rooms and open common areas on each floor to ensure a quality of life the older members of the community deserve.

HammondCare Chief Executive, Dr Stephen Judd, said: “HammondCare is absolutely delighted to have the City of Sydney partner with us on in this much needed project, providing residential aged care for older people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

“This grant is testament to the council’s compassion for aged homeless people – a compassion we share – and we look forward to working together in helping to meet this pressing need.”

HammondCare operates several facilities in Sydney and is one of Australia’s most experienced providers in delivering aged care services.

For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Advisor Keeley Irvin Phone 0448 005 718 or email kirvin@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Matt Levinson. Phone 0499 319 385 or email mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au