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 report shows that there has been a 50% increase in the number of older people at risk of homelessness in NSW in the last five years. An insecure and unaffordable private rental market, a lengthy social housing waiting list, a homelessness service system that is not resourced to respond to older people, and poor linkages between the housing and aged care sectors, mean that the odds are stacked against older people. Unless urgent action is taken now, the problem will only get bigger.
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 submissionincluding 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
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 submissionincluding 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
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).
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.
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...
We've had the enquiry, now we need Retirement Housing Reform! Join HAAG, COTA Vic, RRVV and Consumer Action for morning tea with your MP on 30th November 2017. RSVP 14 November 2017
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."