News

HAAG has made a submission to the Inquiry into the Treasury Laws Amendment  to the The National Housing and Homelessness Agreement Bill. The bill presents the Australian government with an opportunity to develop a national housing policy that addresses increasing need for secure affordable housing.

Federal Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon moved a motion calling on the government to raise real levels of funding for homelessness services and social housing, work with stakeholders to ensure the specific needs of older people are addressed in National Housing and Homelessness Agreement negotiations with states, and review the Commonwealth Assistance with Care and Housing Program to ensure it is meeting the needs of Australia’s ageing population. The motion passed the Senate with only the Liberal Party and One Nation opposing.

A new report from the Ageing on the Edge - Older Persons Homelessness Prevention Project shows many older Australians are increasingly at risk of becoming homeless and spending more than half their pension and savings on rent. Seniors advocates are warning it's the beginning of a community crisis in Australia. Report by Sarah Farnsworth - Lateline.

In the lead up to Christmas, thousands of Sydney pensioners are surviving on less than $228 a week after forking out half their income on rents, a new report will reveal today.
 
The release of the Ageing on the Edge NSW report in Sydney today by the Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) and University of Adelaide paints a dire picture of rental affordability for older Australians.

The Ageing on the Edge forum at the National Housing Conference in Sydney heard from people  having experienced housing stress and homelessness, as well as academics representatives of groups from across the Housing, Homelessness and Community sectors.

Everyone's message was clear - political will is needed to reverse the 50% increase in the number of older people at risk of homelessness in NSW in the last five years.

We need the ministers to act.

Use the form to send your message to the Hon. Pru Goward, Minister for Social Housing, as well as the Hon. Tanya Davies, Minister for Ageing to urge them to respond today.

Housing for the Aged Action Group has responded to the call for submissions to the Victorian Inquiry into the Re-development of a number of public housing sites.

A number of recommendations are contained in the submission including the following:

  • Tenants must be consulted meaningfully. Each tenant should receive a letter inviting them to consultation about the process. Given that many tenants may speak languages other than English or have low-level literacy, these letters should be delivered by an individual who can then sit down with the tenant and a telephone interpreter if necessary to explain its content. Translated letters are not enough.
  • Advocates (non-DHHS) are employed to work with every tenant about their housing and relocation needs, including planning for the type of housing stock and the design of their new homes.
  • Tenants are moved into new stock that is built on the property- reducing disturbance such as having to relocate schools, find new health care providers etc.
  • Representatives of an independent advocacy service should be on-site on a daily basis and available to answer any questions tenants have
  • All new stock should be public housing.

The full Submission can found here

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We’ve noticed some people have not renewed their membership for this financial year.

You must be a current member to be eligible to vote at the upcoming AGM (16/11/17) or to nominate yourself or someone else for our Committee of Management (COM).
 

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