A vacant Sydney nursing home awaiting redevelopment has been lent to a women's shelter, with experts claiming examples like this could offer a short-term solution to Australia's lack of public housing.

Key points: Twelve months ago Beecroft House was a nursing home, and today it accommodates eight women

Twelve months ago Beecroft House was a nursing home, and today it accommodates eight women Older women are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness

Older women are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness Experts say exploiting the 'meanwhile use' of an empty property could be a gamechanger for social housing

One year ago, Beecroft House, in Sydney's north, was a functioning aged care home.

Today, eight of 20 bedrooms have been leased as transitional housing for women over the age of 55 experiencing homelessness or financial instability.

"I think it's a really innovative 'meanwhile use' of a property that would otherwise be standing vacant while it's going through the planning cycle," said Annabelle Daniel, CEO of Women's Community Shelters, the organisation in charge of the facility.

Despite its small scale, the unique living situation is servicing a growing population.

Women at Beecroft House have their own bedroom and living space but share kitchens. ( ABC News: Harriet Tatham )

On census night in 2016, there were an estimated 6,866 women over 50 who were homeless — the figure representing a 31 per cent increase since 2011.

"Older Australian women are vulnerable," Ms Daniel said.

"If they experience domestic violence, or a bereavement, have a casual history of working, have little superannuation, or have been caring for relatives and don't have a good income stream, all of those factors combine to put women at risk."

Women apply for a two-year tenancy to live at Beecroft House and most pay rent according to both their financial situation and the capacity of the facility.

It is designed to bridge the gap between crisis accommodation and permanent living.

Annabelle Daniel says she's also working on other innovative housing projects. ( ABC News: Harriet Tatham )

While the unique project is believed to be the first of its kind in Sydney, other examples exist in Victoria.

Ms Daniel is calling for more.

"Unless we want to see homelessness growing, and particularly amongst in women and older women, we have to push for more affordable housing. But we also need innovative solutions like this in the meantime," she said.

Support from experts

Professor Peter Phibbs, the head of urban and regional planning and policy at the University of Sydney, said despite our growing cities there were plenty of potential spaces in Sydney — and also around the country — that could alleviate the lack of public housing.

"There are so many spaces that could be used at the moment because it's hard to get financed, the industry is tumultuous, and delays could offer up to a year of [meanwhile use] accommodation for those in need," Professor Phibbs said.

"At the moment it's just been a couple of individual socially progressive developers, and lot of those opportunities are word or mouth or good luck.

"But maybe it's something the Property Council of Australia might like to get their teeth into and show some leadership."

In a statement, the Property Council said there are working on a number of initiatives in NSW to bring together government, community groups, and developers on helping meet transitional housing needs.

But it failed to offer any details.