News

Ageing on the Edge New South Wales Forum Terms of Reference

The Ageing on the Edge NSW Forum has developed from the Ageing on the Edge Older Persons Homelessness Prevention Project Reference Group. The Forum was convened in May 2018 to seek implementation of the key recommendations in the report, determine other key housing issues that need to be addressed for older people in NSW and work collaboratively towards achieving the Forum’s aims.

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.

An Agenda for Ageing Calls for Whole of Government Action

HAAG National Action Project in National Housing Journal

The Ageing on the Edge - Older Persons Homelessness Prevention Project is extending HAAG’s work across Australia. In response to rapidly increasing housing problems facing older people, the project aims to raise awareness and improve services and housing for older people at risk of homelessness. The project made it into the National Housing Conference edition of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) journal Housing Works. Read the full article here

 

Street Smart Raises Funds for HAAG's Work with Older Women

Each month StreetSmart supporters come together to support a grassroots homelessness project through fundraising. 

This month Street Smart is raising money for HAAG's work with older women in NSW. Street Smart says,

"Older women are particularly vulnerable and are the fastest growing demographic of people experiencing homelessness. Older women are poorer than men their age, less able to maintain homeownership and less able to compete in the private rental market. Having spent their younger years in more unpaid work - many women lack superannuation in later years and are dependent on meager Aged Pension to get by". 

Organisations are asked to encourage their members to fundraise and match the funds that are raised.

This has raised over 4 million dollars for 1418 homelessness projects across the country- with 100% of the funds raised going directly to projects.

To help StreetSmart raise money for HAAG and other grassroots homelessness organisations contact Adam at adam@streetsmartaustralia.org 

State Government Invests in Homelessness Services but Falls Short in Providing Essential Housing

On the 13th of January, Minister for Housing Martin Foley announced that the State Government would invest $45 million in housing services and housing, to tackle the state’s homelessness crisis. While Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) welcomes the focus on early intervention and pathways into long term housing, it would like to see more money invested into housing itself, so that services can offer long-term, rather than band aid solutions.

HAAG Communique- a response to the Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector

Since its announcement in February 2016, HAAG members have been contributing to the Victorian Parliament’s Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector. HAAG members were also involved in campaigning for the inquiry itself, so much work has gone into this area of policy development.

HAAG’s extensive submissions to the inquiry were based on the work and knowledge of our ILU and CARPAV working groups over many years. Individual members and staff presented at the oral hearings, sharing their personal experiences. The Government received nearly 800 written submissions and oral testimonies over a three month period.

In March 2017, the government released the Inquiry’s report, which made 15 recommendations to improve the sector.

See our response here 

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