Homes for Older Women (HOW) is a not-for-profit program run by Older Women’s Network (OWN) Blue Mountains. We connect women aged 55+ facing housing insecurity and homelessness with compassionate property owners keen to make a difference.
How did HOW come about?
In early 2023, OWN Blue Mountains member Bronwen Johnston approached the OWN committee with an innovative idea to see what they could do to help local women caught up in the national housing crisis.
Bronwen formed a team with Heather Shepherd and Kerry Chater and the HOW concept was embraced by the OWN membership. Vent Thomas and Julie Nance later joined the HOW team to strengthen the project with their skills including IT, marketing and communications.
Julie became the inaugural Program Manager for a year, with her leadership instrumental in shaping the Program’s foundation and early success. In late March 2025 Julie handed the leadership baton to Katherine Starr.
The HOW team was alarmed by the growing body of research that shows older women are now the fastest growing group to experience homelessness in Australia. They were shocked to discover that in the beautiful Blue Mountains where they had each lived for decades, 66% of homeless people were women – higher than the national figure. They also learned rental stress in the region had escalated at an alarming rate – 400 per cent compared to under 200 per cent elsewhere.
In setting up the program, the volunteers benefited greatly from their generous Advisory Committee and a growing number of supporters, including OWN NSW.
Meet our team
BRONWEN JOHNSTON
HOW Chair/OWN Blue Mountains Chair/OWN NSW Board Member
Bronwen is an MBA graduate who is an accomplished organisational leader. She has worked in the healthcare industry for more than 20 years in addition to experience in the not-for-profit, government, corporate, tourism and small business sectors.
Bronwen has a solid track record in leadership roles, economic development, sales management, marketing, small and large business development and project management.
HEATHER SHEPHERD
HOW Vice Chair/Treasurer
Heather has been involved in not-for-profit organisations for more than 40 years, often as a Board/committee member and treasurer.
She has extensive experience in developing budgets for special projects including grants. The HOW team also benefits from Heather’s project management and financial reporting expertise.
VENT THOMAS
HOW Systems Manager & Marketing Support
Vent has more than 45 years of experience working in theatre and entertainment production, corporate event production, web design and hosting, and marketing and business development.
He is skilled in digital, social and print marketing, proposal writing, business systems and strategy implementation.
Vent has a strong track record of developing marketing and automation systems to improve organisational efficiency.
OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS
We are grateful for the support of OWN Blue Mountains’ members, bringing their wealth of experience and expertise to the HOW program.