Search the Library
'It's shameful': Focus Ireland calls for urgent action to support elderly homeless people
FOCUS IRELAND HAS launched an online campaign calling for the government to take urgent action to ensure no one over the age of 65 is homeless.
The latest figures from the Department of Housing show that there were 119 people over 65 years old living in emergency accommodation in February 2018, a 40% increase on the February 2016 figure of 85.
2018
Themes:
More and more Australians will be homeless unless we act now
One of the most pressing challenges older Australians face is finding secure accommodation with suitable amenities. And as the numbers of older Australians grow, the pressure to provide housing that meets their needs is increasing. We may be facing a crisis of ageing homelessness in coming years.
Older Australians face the same risks of falling into homelessness as everyone else.
2018
Life as an older renter and what it tells us about the urgent need for reform
It is getting harder for older renters to find adequate, appropriate and secure housing. Older women – the focus of my work – are at particular risk. This is due to longer life expectancy, lower incomes across the life course, and less access to benefits like superannuation.
2018
When falling home ownership and ageing baby boomers collide
Until now, the majority of older people in Australia have achieved the goal of owning their own home outright. Hence, policymakers have typically shown little concern about the size and budget costs of rental housing assistance programs for seniors.
2018
Themes:
Australian Homelessness Monitor
Key findings
Australia’s homelessness problem is getting worse:
Homelessness in Australia is outpacing population growth.
Rough sleeping levels are increasing.
Severe overcrowding is the largest group.
Older Australians increasingly experience homelessness.
Indigenous Australians are overrepresented.
There’s increased demand for homelessness specialist services.
The main reasons for seeking assis
2018
Themes:
How to provide suitable and affordable housing for ageing people
With a global rise in the number of people aged 65-plus, it will be increasingly important to have appropriate housing that allows them to remain in their familiar communities and 'age in place' for as long as possible.
However, as experience shows in New Zealand and other parts of the world,housing for many people in this age group is far from appropriate.
In our research, we explore
2018
A community fix for the affordable housing crisis
Australia has a pressing need for more social and affordable housing. More than half of all low-income tenants in the private market spend at least 30% of their disposable income on rent (and often much more than that).
The best way to reduce rental stress is to build up the community housing sector, even though it currently provides less than 1% of all Australian dwellings.
2018
Themes:
Homelessness: Australia's shameful story of policy complacency and failure continues
Exactly a decade ago in 2008, the Australian government committed to an ambitious strategy to halve national homelessness by 2020. Through stepped-up early intervention, better homelessness services and an expanded supply of affordable housing, the problem would be tackled with conviction.
2018
Themes:
How does homelessness affect senior women?
In 2013, The OECD reported that Canada has a low old-age poverty rate compared to other OECD countries—7.2%—but it is rising while other countries’ are decreasing. Furthermore, seniors in Canada must rely on their own capital, including private pensions, for 42% of their post-retirement income.
2018
Themes:
Retired and renting - the trend isn't comforting
The risk is growing that we will see more and more older people living in housing-related poverty.
That is one conclusion of the Stocktake of New Zealand's Housing released this week.
2018
Themes:
