We are encouraged by the $2.9 billion investment to fast-track housing delivery by the Queensland government in yesterday’s state budget. This includes $1 billion set aside for Housing Investment Fund, a long-term fund that will drive new supply to support current and future housing need.

Housing for the Aged Action Group supports the submission by QShelter and the Housing Older Women (HOW) movement for the government to increase the supply of appropriate and affordable housing for older women, support sector capacity building on the housing needs of older women and establish a specialist support service that provides assistance to older people to navigate the housing system to identify safe and sustainable housing options that suit their needs.

HAAG Executive Officer Fiona York said “we know that older people, particularly older women are the emerging face of homelessness.”

She added “the commitment in Queensland Housing Strategy Action Plan 2021-2025 to develop and deliver housing with support for older people experiencing or at risk of homelessness including responses for older women is timely given the challenges older people experience when accessing housing whether it is in the private rental market or social and affordable housing. We hope the government will provide funding for a dedicated service to support older people and are encouraged with the commitment to work more closely with people with lived experience to improve services and access.”

The Queensland Housing Strategy Action Plan 2021-2025 also commits to implement retirement villages reforms, give consumers greater choice and control over their retirement living arrangements and improve access to pre-contractual advice about residential parks and retirement villages.

“Given the importance of having a place to call home and the success of Home at Last model in Victoria, we encourage other states and territories to follow the lead of Victoria and Queensland to invest in services that target and support older people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We welcome any opportunity to work with Queensland government and other stakeholder to share our learnings and expertise.”

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For more information contact Fiona York, Executive Officer, Fiona.york@oldertenants.org.au or 0449 554 142