The "Missing Middle": Older people falling through the gaps of the housing system

Some older people, particularly older women, are falling through the gaps of the housing system

• People who retire without owning their own home and with a small amount of assets are ineligible for social housing yet cannot afford other housing options – this group is the ‘missing middle’. 
• Women are disproportionately represented in the ‘missing middle’ due to gender disparities in wages, workforce participation and superannuation. 
• Research on the scale of the issue and analysis of appropriate responses and policy reforms are required. Policy reforms should encompass an increase in appropriate and affordable housing supply, investment in services to support this group before they reach a crisis point and gender analysis in policy making to identify and mitigate gender inequalities. 

Read our briefing note here