News

New report shows link between housing and elder abuse

Housing for the Aged Action Group has today released a new report looking at the link between housing and elder abuse, to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The report examines the experiences of older people facing housing insecurity who presented to Housing for the Aged Action Group with suspected elder abuse between 2020-2024. The findings highlight that elder abuse is a complex and hidden issue, most often occurring within close family relationships and within shared living arrangements, and reinforce the importance of secure and stable housing as a critical pathway out of abuse.

Victorian Retirement laws finally pass

Housing for the Aged Action Group welcomes the passing of new Retirement laws after a five year consultation period and many more years of advocacy from residents. The new laws include significant changes that will improve the day-to-day life of residents, such as a mandatory code of conduct for operators, standardized contracts for new residents, limits on renovation costs, fairer rules about allocating capital gain, and greater transparency and clarity about fees. 

Homes for older people at risk of homelessness in the Goulburn Valley

In 2021, Housing for the Aged Action Group extended its housing information service for older people to the Goulburn Valley region of Central Victoria, providing information and advice on housing options and practical support for older people at risk of homelessness. Despite floods, COVID-19, heatwaves and fires, a small team of local women have assisted over 91 older people at risk of homelessness to find housing. This video tells their story.

Providing evidence at the Inquiry into the Supply of Homes in Regional Victoria

We provided evidence to the Inquiry that,  increasing numbers of older people in regional Victoria do not own their own homes and they find themselves facing the real and frightening prospect of homelessness in older age. Older people in regional Victoria are facing a significant and growing housing crisis that has serious impacts on their health and
wellbeing, and this limits their ability to access aged care supports – it is very difficult to be able to access in-home care if you do not have a stable house. We desperately need more homes for low-income older Victorians and the best way to do that is by investing in public and community housing and low-cost retirement housing. 

Read the full transcript of evidence here

The Federal Election is over, but the fight for homes for older people continues

We wanted to take a moment to thank all of you, our members, for the work that you did in the lead up to the election. Sending letters to candidates, meeting members of Parliament, speaking up about older people’s housing. It is your voices and the stories we hear every day from our clients that makes our advocacy powerful.
 

HAAG urges the Albanese Government to ‘be bold’ as the fight for homes for older people continues

HAAG welcomes the Prime Minister’s election night commitments to ensuring that ‘no-one is left behind’, and to ‘looking after older Australians’. One of the most effective foundations to achieve this will be to ensure that everyone has a secure home they can afford. Distressingly, increasing numbers of older people are prevented from achieving this basic human need. They are at risk of homelessness, or are going without food, essential medications, heating and cooling, and healthcare just to keep a roof over their head.

Who cares about older people’s housing this election?

After decades of campaigning for safe, secure and affordable housing for older people, the housing crisis is finally getting the attention it deserves in this election campaign. Labor, the Coalition and the Greens are all vying to woo voters with pledges they claim will improve the affordability of housing. HAAG is pleased that housing has been such a prominent issue in the election, but we are deeply disappointed that that the unprecedented housing crisis facing older people has not been addressed.

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