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.

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

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.