"There has been increasing awareness of the statistics of women aged 55 and over experiencing homelessness in Victoria and Australia more broadly. The 2014 report ‘Older Women’s Pathways Out of Homelessness in Australia’ found that women in this age group may have limited superannuation, minimal work experience and potentially inadequate financial literacy from time unemployed due to caring responsibilities and unpaid labour. Therefore many older single women may be living off welfare payments with minimal savings while renting in the unaffordable and unsustainable private rental market. The 2014 report states that older women are more likely to be the ‘invisible homeless’, both physically and statistically; more likely to couch surf, live in their car or at home under threat of violence than be sleeping rough. This physical and statistical invisibility means that appropriate and specific services, support, referrals and housing are minimal. It also means on a policy level there is limited government understanding of what is needed to not only support older women out of homelessness, but prevent homelessness or housing instability occurring in the first place. "
Shane talks to Maurine, a retirement village resident who's been trying to get management to fix a leak in her unit for over six months. Why is it so hard to resolve disputes in retirement villages? Plus, how she avoided the boot factory as an adolescent. We also hear from a couple of happy HAAG members about their experiences of homelessness and housing stress, and how things worked out for them.
Each month StreetSmart supporters come together to support a grassroots homelessness project through fundraising.
This month Street Smart is raising money for HAAG's work with older women in NSW. Street Smart says,
"Older women are particularly vulnerable and are the fastest growing demographic of people experiencing homelessness. Older women are poorer than men their age, less able to maintain homeownership and less able to compete in the private rental market. Having spent their younger years in more unpaid work - many women lack superannuation in later years and are dependent on meager Aged Pension to get by".
Organisations are asked to encourage their members to fundraise and match the funds that are raised.
This has raised over 4 million dollars for 1418 homelessness projects across the country- with 100% of the funds raised going directly to projects.
To help StreetSmart raise money for HAAG and other grassroots homelessness organisations contact Adam at adam@streetsmartaustralia.org
On the 13th of January, Minister for Housing Martin Foley announced that the State Government would invest $45 million in housing services and housing, to tackle the state’s homelessness crisis. While Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) welcomes the focus on early intervention and pathways into long term housing, it would like to see more money invested into housing itself, so that services can offer long-term, rather than band aid solutions.
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.
This submission focuses on the need for the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement Bill to acknowledge the dire circumstances facing an increasing ageing population that is facing a future of housing hardship due to successive government policies that have focused on private rental subsidies in Commonwealth Rent Assistance rather than much needed capital expenditure on public and community housing. This has created a long-term need for investment in public and community housing but also urgently put in place specialist early intervention homelessness support services to assist the thousands of older people experiencing hardship and at risk of homelessness in the private rental market.
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."