Letter by Dalene Salisbury, Housing for the Aged Action Group.
the Age, Tuesday 25 March 2014
"Providing more equity in the allowances should not have the effect of driving older people into further poverty. Our group's Home at Last service hears from thousands of older people who are paying, on average, 60 to 70 per cent of their age pension on private market rent. Many do not use their heating, cut back on food and are ''one eviction notice'' away from homelessness".
To read a text version click on the heading above.
The 'Surviving or Thriving?' Forum was organised to provide information on the current state of older persons housing and the needs of older people who are at risk of homelessness. A number of worrying trends are developing that require urgent action by governments: Significant increases in older people just surviving in the private rental market; no new affordable housing supply after the completion of Nation Building funds; poor connections between older persons housing needs and aged care services in the home; and only 1% of homelessness service funds directed to the needs of a vulnerable ageing population.
For further reading and presentations made at the 'Surviving or Thriving' Forum, click on the header above.
Securing Our Future: Retirement in Residential Parks in Victoria
On Thursday 12 July 2012 Housing for the Aged Action Group with sponsorship byMornington Peninsula Shire, held a forum titled – "Securing Our Future: Retirement in Residential Parks in Victoria". The themes for the day were of two key concerns voiced by residents and site tenants noted through our extensive work within this area of housing: security of tenure and resident/management relations.
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."