Historic women’s refuge Wyn Carr House reopens as housing for older women at risk of homelessness
Older women facing homelessness now have a safe place to call home in Fremantle.
The historic Wyn Carr House building, which operated as a women’s shelter from 1978 to 2019 before closing for renovations, reopened last week as special temporary accommodation for older women experiencing homelessness.
The building has 12 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, common indoor and outdoor areas, open-plan living areas, counseling and group therapy rooms.
Uniting WA and Housing All Australians worked together to fund and produce the project.
Uniting WA co-chief executive Jen Park said the facility would be critical for the community given the recent increase in demand due to rising cost of living pressures.
“Uniting WA runs the Tramby Participation Center for people coming in to have their urgent needs met… and we have seen a sharp increase in the number of women and older women who are homeless or rough sleeping, seeking additional support, turning up at the centre,” she said.
“In any given year, we see over 90,000 presentations at Tramby, both male and female, and almost 3000 referrals are made for accommodation support – but many of these referrals are never fulfilled due to a lack of beds in the system.
“There’s also a group of people who are at the top. They may have the job, but they’re really struggling with rent increases and cost of living increases. That’s forcing some to get out of their rent because they can’t afford to stay there.”
Women will be able to stay at Wyn Carr House for up to 12 months, depending on their circumstances, and will have access to comprehensive support from Uniting WA through on-site, dedicated case management.
“If they are experiencing mental health issues or need medical support, they will receive appropriate support,” Ms. Park said.
“For some people, it might just be relearning how to budget, how to cook, or how to maintain a home. It can be overwhelming when they haven’t done that in a long time.”
The historic building is named after Winifred Emily Carr, a prominent community leader known for her services to disadvantaged women in the late 1900s.
After the Wyn Carr House was deemed unsuitable for use as a women’s shelter in 2019, the community came together to fund its renovations.
The State Government contributed $7.01 million to the restructuring; this includes $2.06 million from Lotterywest and more than $1 million in pro bono services.
Ms. Park said her goal was to support women who are barely sleeping while couch surfing, in their cars or on the streets, as they get into a position where they can transition into more permanent independent living.
“They may have moved into an aged care facility, an NDIS-funded facility or a rental that they have in their own name, and this home is designed to support that journey,” he said.
“This facility is not for young mothers with children, but for women who have journeyed through life. They may have grown children, they may have built a career but are no longer earning an income, they may not have any pension due to their unpaid care role, they may be a victim of domestic violence, all different circumstances.”
Homelessness Minister Matthew Swinbourn said this practical support was crucial for this demographic.
“Wyn Carr House provides safe, supported accommodation for older women at a time when they need it most,” she said.
“Older women are one of the fastest growing groups at risk of homelessness and this project directly responds to that need.”
Uniting WA accepts referrals through Entrypoint, which assesses applicants against a criterion that determines whether they are ready to move into temporary housing.
Call 1300 663 298 or use the Uniting WA website to access caseworkers for guidance through the application process.
