South Australia was a key focus of the Ageing on the Edge project during the first year. Due to a fantastic partnership with Council on the Ageing South Australia (COTASA) we have been conducting research on the state of housing for older people in South Australia. COTASA has organised an Older Persons Housing Roundtable that includes representatives of government and not-for-profit organisations to collaborate on tackling the issues facing older people at risk of homelessness.

This has so far culminated in a research phase looking at the latest data on older renters in South Australia, with a focus on the private rental sectors. A report is being prepared that will soon be provided to the Roundtable and then later released publicly.

Two of the early findings of the research include: There are areas of significant housing poverty being experienced by older people in the private rental market. Our research has found there are 5000 people aged 65 and over paying more than 30% of their income in rent in the greater Adelaide metropolitan region.

Download the Ageing on the Edge SA Summary Report here

Secondly, there are many fantastic services that are providing housing and related assistance to older people in South Australia. However, many services report that the service systems are quite fragmented and streamlining the way older people can get housing help could make a significant difference to the lives if older people at risk of homelessness.

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