News

New report: Sydney rents - the Grinch robbing older people of Christmas

In the lead up to Christmas, thousands of Sydney pensioners are surviving on less than $228 a week after forking out half their income on rents, a new report will reveal today.
 
The release of the Ageing on the Edge NSW report in Sydney today by the Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) and University of Adelaide paints a dire picture of rental affordability for older Australians.

The older I get the scarier it becomes - Send your message to the Ministers

The Ageing on the Edge forum at the National Housing Conference in Sydney heard from people  having experienced housing stress and homelessness, as well as academics representatives of groups from across the Housing, Homelessness and Community sectors.

Everyone's message was clear - political will is needed to reverse the 50% increase in the number of older people at risk of homelessness in NSW in the last five years.

We need the ministers to act.

Use the form to send your message to the Hon. Pru Goward, Minister for Social Housing, as well as the Hon. Tanya Davies, Minister for Ageing to urge them to respond today.

HAAG makes submission to the Inquiry into the Public Housing Re-development Program

Housing for the Aged Action Group has responded to the call for submissions to the Victorian Inquiry into the Re-development of a number of public housing sites.

A number of recommendations are contained in the submission including the following:

  • Tenants must be consulted meaningfully. Each tenant should receive a letter inviting them to consultation about the process. Given that many tenants may speak languages other than English or have low-level literacy, these letters should be delivered by an individual who can then sit down with the tenant and a telephone interpreter if necessary to explain its content. Translated letters are not enough.
  • Advocates (non-DHHS) are employed to work with every tenant about their housing and relocation needs, including planning for the type of housing stock and the design of their new homes.
  • Tenants are moved into new stock that is built on the property- reducing disturbance such as having to relocate schools, find new health care providers etc.
  • Representatives of an independent advocacy service should be on-site on a daily basis and available to answer any questions tenants have
  • All new stock should be public housing.

The full Submission can found here

Download

Renew today to be able to vote at AGM

We’ve noticed some people have not renewed their membership for this financial year.

You must be a current member to be eligible to vote at the upcoming AGM (16/11/17) or to nominate yourself or someone else for our Committee of Management (COM).
 

FORUM: NSW, a state of crisis for older renters?

The national Ageing on the Edge – Older Persons Homelessness Prevention Project is holding a half day forum on the renting crisis facing older people in NSW. The forum will include the latest research on older renters in NSW and hear from older people and advocates about the housing challenges faced by older people on low incomes. Attendees are invited to work towards solutions. Morning tea will be provided.

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Major changes to public tenant debt policy

The Victorian Ombudsman has been investigating the Office of Housing’s debt enforcement policy and have found that the Office of Housing (OOH) has failed to meet the obligations of a social landlord. The OOH has now agreed to major changes that will have a big, beneficial impact for many of our clients...

Download press release from the Victorian Ombudsman

Download full report from the Victorian Ombudsman

Older tenants big winners in rental law shake-up

Housing for the Aged Action Group, a Victorian organisation working to improve conditions for older renters, welcomed news of major changes to the state’s rental laws over the weekend. The Andrews Government will ban no-reason notices to vacate, allow tenants to keep pets, and introduce a Residential Tenancies Commissioner to make it easier to resolve minor disputes.

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