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Ageing on the Edge: Older Australians at risk of homelessness
A national one-day forum was held on Thursday 30th June 2011 at ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne.
The aim of the event was to highlight the latest research and hear the community sector’s perspective on the housing and homelessness problems faced by low income older people in Australia. While the Commonwealth Government White paper on Homelessness The Road Home produced some important initiatives to address the needs of some sectors of the elderly homeless, it failed to articulate a major strategy to deal with this increasing problem. The forum set the scene for discussion on a future framework to address the emerging problem of housing an ageing population and how best respond to the increasing numbers of older people who are faced with a housing crisis.
Our keynote speakers included Professor Andrew Jones from Queensland University, who discussed the results of his current research project on older people and homelessness; Trish Westmore from Hanover Welfare Services presented the results of her research into homelessness service pathways for older people; and Barbara Squires from The Benevolent Society presented the innovative housing model The Ocean Street Project. Jeff Fiedler from HAAG presented a community advocacy perspective and highlight, in conjunction with HAAG members who have recently experienced homelessness, the current crisis in the private rental market and the need for a specialist older persons’ service response.
A panel of speakers chaired by Sarah Kahn, Manager, Policy & Communications Unit, Council to Homeless Persons further explored the community service impacts.
HAAG invited key policy representatives from government and non-government sector to be part of the audience.
A special launch of the Parity journal on older people and homelessness was a feature of the lunchtime break.
****Inaugural National Meeting of ACHA****
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Follow the link to the forum site >>here or click on the tab "Forum June 2011" along the top menu.
Public or Social Housing
29 June 2010
Housing for the Aged Action Group held a forum on 29 June 2010 to discuss the future of public housing and the role of registered housing associations.
Public or Social Housing—Your Right to Choose
A state-wide forum on the future of public housing was held on 29 June 2010. Since the landmark Social Housing Innovations Project Report by Hal Bissett in 2000, there has been much discussion about ways of increasing the housing stock of the community and social housing sectors. Transferring one-third of public housing stock to housing associations was one of the main ideas proposed in that report.
While the issue of stock transfers has been on the back-burner for a number of years, and some stock has been redeveloped with new management companies involved, recent statements by government and community leaders has raised the prospect of public housing transfers once again. This prospect raises a number of issues of concern for tenants regarding their current and future rights as tenants of public and not-for-profit housing.
The Victorian Government, in their Integrated Housing Strategy released in March 2010, announced that they will “develop a five-year growth plan to continue the expansion of housing associations in Victoria. The plan will consider options for a “targeted conversion of public housing stock to association stock”. Also, at the National Housing Conference in November 2009 the Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek, in her keynote speech, promoted the view that there should be a transfer of 10,000 public housing units to social housing providers. More recently, the Tenants Union of Victoria stated, in their submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Public Housing that “at least half of the existing Office of Housing stock should be transferred.”
The forum aimed to hear from the Office of Housing about the government’s plans, provide an opportunity for housing associations to promote the values of their housing model, and most importantly, create a forum for tenants to ask questions, raise issues and have a say about the transfer of their homes to social housing providers.
The event was quite successful with its purpose of creating an opportunity for tenants to gain a better understanding of the aims and objectives of the government plans for the future of public housing and the housing associations. The key spokesperson for the Office of Housing, Robert Macbeth, who is in charge of the overall development of the housing association model, presented a range of information about current and future projects. Of particular interest to HAAG was his announcement that a not- for- profit rental village is to be developed. Jo McInerney from the Office of the Housing Registrar, talked about the regulatory regime. She also responded to the auditor-general’s report that was released a week before the forum that had been critical of the lack of transparency of the policies and procedures of the housing associations and stated that they are ‘cherry-picking’ tenants on higher incomes and neglecting applicants with complex needs. The speakers stayed for the afternoon session and this gave the audience the opportunity to raise a number of questions and challenge some of the current practices.
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The Commonwealth Government's White Paper on Homelessness The Road Home discusses its strategy on homelessness "
In June 2009 an information session was held on the federal government’s White Paper strategy on homelessness. Called The Road Home, the White Paper sets out a plan to halve homelessness in Australia within 10 years. The information session also provided an opportunity for the state government to announce that it is developing its own plan specifically for Victoria. HAAG has since offered our commitment to contribute to the process to ensure that the needs of older people on low incomes are well represented.
We have written to the state government offering our services to attend the proposed Ministerial Roundtable and any other consultative forums that will be arranged
during the strategy. We have also offered the opportunity for the state and federal governments to have direct discussions with HAAG members to hear their stories about their experience with the housing crisis and offer their contribution to solutions.
Interestingly, our service approach is also supported by the British Government who have, in the words of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, decided to “provide a new national information service to make sure that all older people have access to good housing advice” (Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods – A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society 2008).
To read additional information on this issue, click > here
To read the minutes of the forum The Road Home for Older People held on Tuesday 9 June 2009 click > here to download report, 108 KB.
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In 2008 HAAG held two major forums: Ageing In Place? and Caravan Parks or Villages?
Ageing In Place?
was held on 18 June 2008 at the Melbourne Town Hall. This forum looked at the struggles faced by older people in the private rental market.
Over 100 people attended. Many people were moved to tears when they heard about the experiences of our four tenant speakers in private rental accommodation and how each of them faced dilemas of unsuitable, unsustainable housing.
Murray was one of the tenants in private rental who spoke of the problems he encountered. Murray's story can be viewed on the HAAG video. Follow the link to the video page > here
Caravan Parks or Villages?
On Thursday 16 October 2008 HAAG held a forum at ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne on the changing landscape of caravan and residential parks. The report of this meeting can be downloaded by clicking > here to download ACMI Report 248KB
An extended background can be found on the CARPRA ( Caravan and Residential Parks Residents Association) page on the HAAG website by following the link to the CARPRA page> here.
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