Housing for the Aged Action Group Publications

Inquiry into the Rental and Housing Affordability Crisis in Victoria

HAAG welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Inquiry into the Rental and Housing Affordability Crisis in Victoria. This submission is based on our experience delivering housing and related support services to older people, research and lived experiences of older people experiencing housing stress or homelessness in Australia. We especially acknowledge the contributions to this submission made by members of HAAG’s advisory groups including Retirement Accommodation Action Group (RAAG), LGBTQIA+ reference group and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) reference group.

Read the submission

National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality

HAAG welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality. This submission is based on our experience delivering housing and related support services to older women, research and lived experiences of older women experiencing housing stress or homelessness in Australia. We especially acknowledge the contributions to this submission made by members of HAAG’s advisory groups including National Alliance for Seniors Housing (NASH), Retirement Accommodation Action Group (RAAG), LGBTQIA+ reference group, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) reference group and NSW Lived Experience Advocacy Group (LEAG).

Read the Submission

"Missing Middle" Older People Falling Through the Cracks

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

Older Tenants Voice - Spring 2020

This spring we farewell our old chairperson, welcome new staff, and keep you up to date with all of HAAGs projects and services.

PDF icon Read the Newsletter here

Out of the frying pan into the fire: The experiences of Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) clients referred to Independent Living Units (ILU) and general retirement information.

While there has been research into the experience of people living in ILUs (HAAG, 2016), there is limited knowledge of the experience of people attempting to gain access to them. It may be inferred however that access is problematic; waitlists are generally years in length, there area large numbers of low-income pensioners in the private rental market, and there are low numbers of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) aged living in them (HAAG, 2016). Obtaining up to date and transparent information about ILUs and other retirement villages is also challenging. 

This report looks at whether HAAG clients who are given information about ILUs actually obtain housing in ILUs, and explores some of the structural reasons behind this. 

For more of the report click here

Is the Victorian Housing Register providing transparency in the process for community housing offers that its introduction intended?

The purpose of this report is to ascertain whether or not the VHR is working as it intended in regards to the process of receiving community housing offers in the case of HAAG’s cohort of older people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. HAAG’s housing workers house approximately 7 people per month in social housing - an umbrella term to mean public housing which is owned by government, and community housing which is owned or managed by not for profit community housing providers. Our workers mainly utilise the VHR and use our contacts and networks within community housing providers to house our clients. In practice though, how many of our clients are being housed in community housing through each process? Has the VHR simplified it and made the process more transparent in relation to community housing providers and how they offer vacancies? This is something the introduction of the VHR aimed to address and this report will focus on.

See the full report here

Older Tenants Voice- Spring Newsletter 2018

This newsletter celebrates the tireless work of April Bragg. After 19 years of service, April is retiring, but not without leaving behind a legacy of dedication and passion for housing justice for Older Victorians.

Read more here

Recommendations for the Terms of Reference of the Aged Care Royal Commission- From HAAG's National Project

"For many years older people at risk of homelessness in the rental market have been discriminated against and severely neglected by the aged care system. The main factor that has caused this problem is a policy framework and aged care service practices that are based on the broad assumption that older people own their own home and, as assets based financial contributors, are more valued than older renters."

Read the submission here.

Homelessness and Older People: What does HAAG do?


Fiona York, HAAG's Executive officer, chatted with Lisa Tribuzio, North Metro Diversity Advisor from the North Metro Sector Development team,  during Homelessness Week. They talked about HAAGs work housing older people at risk of homelessness, with older women, CALD and LGBTI communities.

HAAG State Election Strategy 2018

In November 2018, Victorians go to the polls.  An election provides the opportunity to show leadership about the issues that matter.We know that housing for older people has become a significant problem that needs to be addressed urgently by the Victorian State Government.

 

Home and Housed 2nd Edition 2018

Home and Housed is an annual HAAG newsletter detailing our service data, case studies, service model and analysis of housing trends. Through early intervention and prevention, Home at Last assisted 1081 older people who were at risk of homelessness in the 2017-2018 Financial Year. This included our small outreach team housing 130 people, even in the tough conditions (halting of public housing offers) created by the Victorian Housing Renewal Program. We want to share this great achievement with our members and anyone else who is interested in how the Home at Last model works.

Read Home and Housed 2nd Edition here

Public Housing Redevelopments Impact Older Persons' Health and Wellbeing

This article looks at the impact of the Victorian Government's Public Housing Redevelopment Program on older people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Read the Article here

Senator Doug Cameron's Parity Launch Speech

Senator Doug Cameron launched the edition of Parity Magazine June 2018 titled "Older people and homelessness: What Works"

You can download his speech here

Older Tenants Voice Newsletter - June 2018

Older Tenants' Voice newsletter - June 2018
Womens Homelessness edition

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Housing service for the elderly outraged by reduction in affordable homes and public land

Home at Last, are appalled at the findings of the Inquiry into the Public Housing Renewal Program which revealed that the previous redevelopment in Kensington (a model for the current program) actually decreased the total number of Public and Community houses by 36% and the number of bedrooms by 54%, while selling off the public land for just 5% of its market value.

Morrisons Aged Care Package avoids the elephant in the rented room

 Melbourne based Housing Support organisation Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) welcome Treasurer Scott Morrison’s announcement of 14,000 extra aged care home packages. The government’s sentiments that it is better for a person’s wellbeing to receive support in their own home than to go into aged care aligns with HAAG’s goal of assisting older people to maintain independent living in their community of choice.
 
However, the group believe that there is something crucial missing from this announcement (and the budget in general). That’s Older Private Renters.

Strategic Plan 2016-2019

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Clients Rights, Responsibilites & Privacy

Clients Rights, Responsibilities and Privacy when dealing with Home at Last

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Older Tenants Voice Newsletter - March 2018

Older Tenants' Voice,  Autumn Newsletter - March 2018
Special Cultural Diversity edition with translated material.

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Agenda for Ageing in Victoria

Our organisation supports an Agenda for Ageing in Victoria that will guide practical and timely action to improve the quality of life for all Victorians as we age.

Read the Agenda

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