History
Out of an expressed need for public housing for older people living in the Westernport region, Housing for the Aged Action Group had its beginning.
At the initiative of a group of older private tenants, the Western Regional Housing Council and concerned individuals, our group began meeting on 21st July 1983.
Initially, the group concentrated on the chronic shortage of elderly person units in the region and the Ministry of Housing's one bedroom policy which was seen to be unfair and impractical for many older couples housing needs.
In 1984 the group published its first booklet entitled 'When the Buck Stops', which was based on research commissioned by the group. The booklet included housing profiles of people in housing difficulties and drew public attention to a largely hidden and ignored problem - the desperate shortage of public housing.
Following numerous attempts to secure funding the group eventually received a small grant of $5000 from Community Services Victoria to employ a one day a week worker to extend the functions of the group.
With an increasing number of older people participating in the group's activities, especially those on the public housing waiting list, more support and referral was necessary.
In 1988 we successfully applied for funds from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and employed a worker for 12 hours per week.
A Constitution was formed and we became incorporated in 1988. During that year we published our second booklet entitled 'The Buck Ain't Stopped' which was based on further research commissioned by the Westernport Regional Housing Council.
As the title of our second book suggested, things had not changed significantly since the publication of our first booklet.
In 1991 we secured funding from the Tenant Support Program to provide a state-wide tenancy service for older renters with a worker employed for 32 hours per week.
As well as providing tenancy advice, we provide a state-wide forum where tenants and interested groups and individuals may raise and act upon tenancy and housing issues affecting older people.
During 1995 we extended our services by securing funding from the Federal Department of Health's Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged (ACHA) scheme to assist frail older tenants in housing difficulty.
Short term funding from the Stegley Foundation, Sidney Myer Fund, and The Lance Reichstein Foundation was also provided to establish a Housing Options service. The combination of the three services enabled HAAG to provide a comprehensive level of housing assistance from one location at our office in Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
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In 1996 a publication called 'Community Housing and Older People' was launched which was the culmination of six months research into the preferred community housing options of older people, funded by the Department of Human Services.
In 1997, in conjunction with the City of Moreland, the Public Tenants Union and the Brunswick Progress Association, we organised the 'Housing People' photographic exhibition of inner Melbourne slum housing during the Great Depression.
In 1998/99, for International Year of Older Persons, HAAG organised the 'Having Our Say' Forum at the Melbourne Town Hall, and released a report about the housing concerns of older tenants.
In 2001 HAAG secured funding for a full time position from the Office of Housing to provide a public tenants advice service under the Public Housing Advisory Program (PHAP). HAAG also held a Health, Aged Care and Housing Forum to help workers in these fields to better integrate their services.
In 2002 HAAG organised another successful statewide forum called Having Our Say 2002 which is part of a strategy to develop a Rural and Regional Older Tenants Network.
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In 2003 100 tenants attended our AGM to endorse HAAG's Older Tenants Housing Charter. based on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Article 25 (1):
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care, and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old-age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control”
Link to Housing Charter report page >here
The members at the 2003 AGM also accepted a report called Older Australian's Experience Living in Insecure Tenancies produced by Ena Ahern. The report 'Older Tenants Experience Living in Insecure Tenancies' documented the wider impacts of the threat of homelessness and relocation on older people.
Link to the report available >here
In 2004, in conjunction with the Victorian Public Tenants Association, HAAG held a forum called Back to the Future at ACMI, Federation Square. Attended by 200 people, talks and films depicted the fear that affordable housing is heading back to the days before the Housing Commission where older people had to rely on private landlords for their housing.
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In 2005, HAAG held two significant forums: A Housing is a Health Issue regional forum in Benalla, and a Caravan and Residential Park Residents Statewide Forum, with a report launch by the Minister for Consumer Affairs in 2006.
In 2007 HAAG presented a major submission to Consumer Affairs’ Residential Accommodation Strategy that aims, amongst other plans, to provide improved security of tenure for older people living in residential parks.
In 2008 HAAG held two major forums: Ageing In Place? on the struggles faced by older people in the private rental market held at the Melbourne Town Hall; and Caravan Parks or Villages? on the changing landscape of caravan and residential parks held at Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Federation Square, Melbourne.
As well as providing direct services to tenants, Housing for the Aged Action Group has continued its central focus as a lobby group to improve the housing conditions of older renters. Our group holds regular general meetings, an annual statewide forum, visits country regions of Victoria, organises exhibitions, conducts research, runs campaigns, and meets with government representatives on critical housing issues.
Click >here to download HAAG History brochure - 26 years of achievement. 38KB
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