More than half a million Australians aged 55 or over are at risk of falling through the cracks, according to a new Swinburne report launched today, that shows they are neither poor enough to qualify for effective and accessible housing assistance nor wealthy enough to secure housing independently as they age.
The research identifies and estimates the incidence of people aged 55 or older who are at risk of ‘non-supported housing precarity,’ referred to here as the Missing Middle. This target group includes older Australians who are ‘not poor enough’ to qualify for – or be in receipt of - current housing assistance but ‘not wealthy enough’ to have sufficient income or assets to secure housing, both now and as they age.
This World Homeless Day, the Victorian Public Tenants Association (VPTA) is calling on the state government to urgently address the social housing crisis by committing to the delivery of at least 60,000 new social housing homes, a strong proportion of which must be public housing homes, over the next decade.
Dear Landlord
9 Oct 2024
Fiona speaks to Hannah Lewis and Sam Horman from Homeless Law about their digital tool, Dear Landlord, that they developed in response to the huge demand that Homeless Law was seeing through their advice service. To access the tool, go to https://justiceconnect.org.au/help/dear-landlord/
In September, the Save Public Housing Collective held a residents meeting at 120 Racecourse Road in Flemington. It was attended by approximately 60 residents of the estate, many of whom were older tenants. Residents were asked to contribute to the discussion, and we think more than anything else, it’s important to hear directly from older residents about their concerns. What follows is some of what they said.
A series of stories published by the ABC this week highlighted unfair fees, confusing contracts and poor treatment of residents living in retirement villages. Government must act now to protect retirement village residents from exploitation and eviction.
HAAG makes a number of recommendations to ensure the 'Plan for Victoria' addresses the future needs of older people to have access to safe, secure and affordable housing.
HAAG recommends that the Federal Government identify financial products and banking options to prevent older people in the lowest income households falling out of homeownership due to mortgage stress, as well as funding the construction of public and community housing for older people who are not likely to find market based housing
Shane and Fiona speak to Erin Turner, CEO of Consumer Policy Research Centre about their new research in partnership witht he Office of the Residential Tenancies Commissioner, focussing on residential parks.You can find out more and participate in the research by going to their website www.cprc.org.au
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."