Labor social housing bill not enough to address older women homelessness spike, advocates say

Advocates say Labor's housing policy is a good first step, but argue it needs to go even further. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

Advocates say the federal government's housing plan is a good first step but is "insufficient" to help women aged 55 and older who are facing the highest rate of homelessness in a decade.

People older than 55 years make up just 16 per cent of Australia's homeless population and the majority of this cohort are men.