Housing for the Aged Action Group

Fiona and Shane talk to David Kelly from RMIT's Centre for Urban Research  about what the Victorian Government's so-called "Big Housing Build" means for the future of public housing.

Shane and Fiona interview Alistair Webster about the Building Better Homes coalition, and their campaign to change the Building Code so that all new homes are built to be accessible for everyone.  We talk about universal housing design, why its important and what you can do to lobby building ministers from across Australia.Check out Building Better Homes @BetterHomesAussign on to the petition: www.change.org.au/BetterHomes  

Fiona and Shane talk to Rebecca Cook about our peer education program,  and how important it is to have people with an experience of housing stress and homelessness talking to older people about their experiences.  Peer education has been part of HAAG's tradition for years, and when older people share their personal stories it helps reduce stigma about homelessness.  We are expanding our program, funded through the Melbourne Women's Fund.Shane gives an update on legislative reform, and Fiona talks about a new campaign to improve building standards for housing.

The Older Women and Homelessness forum was held in NSW in November 2020. Hosted by Jo Haylen MP (Seniors), with guests Trish Doyle (Shadow Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic Violence), and Ryan Park (Health, Housing and Homelessness), this recording features Kobi Maglen presenting on behalf of Ageing on the Edge - HAAG's older persons homelessness prevention project, and we also hear from The Hon. Dr Kay Patterson AO, Age Discrimination Commissioner. Meagan Lawson (COTA NSW), Beverly Baker (OWN NSW) and Katherine McKernan (Homelessness NSW)The full presentation is available here: https://fb.me/e/1Q26lkHij The Renters and Housing Union is holding an Eviction Defence Workshop Sat 16 January in Footscray.  Details are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/3468397603215385 

Shane and Fiona talk to Leonie Bessant about the collection of stories from older people in housing stress from across the country.  The stories have been collected over the last three years, and published in the National Alliance of Seniors For Housing newsletter.  The stories have been published in a book and is available here:https://www.oldertenants.org.au/publications/seniors-for-housing-stories-older-people-experiencing-homelessness-and-housing-stressShane and Fiona also reflect on the year that was 2020 

Shane and Fiona revisit the highlights of the year, starting with the East Gippsland bushfires, the start of the pandemic, the hard lock down of public housing towers and finishing with reminiscing about the housing activism of the 1980s with Jeff Fiedler. 

Shane and Fiona speak to Claire Hurren about her report that compares the experiences of tenants living in public and community housing.  What difference does having a Community Housing Provider as a landlord make? How do tenants understand and exercise their rights?  You can read the full report here: https://www.oldertenants.org.au/publications/public-and-community-housing-comparing-the-rights-and-experiences-older-tenants The release of this research coincided with a big State Government announcement of building new social housing - most of which is community, not public, housing - and we discuss the implications of government policy to move away from public housing.  

Shane and Fiona discuss recent news on the lack of investment in public housing in Victoria, the flawed Commonwealth Rent Assistance Scheme and NAIDOC week

Shane and Fiona play the second part of a panel discussion on older LGBTI housing issues, from the Out of the Closet, Out of Options event for World Homelessness Day.  This time we hear from Tonye Segbedzi on her literature review which found very little research globally into the housing issues of older LGBTI people.  Then we hear from Buzz Rainbow Wolf who tells us about his experience in trying to build community in rural VictoriaThere is more information and the reports available here: https://www.oldertenants.org.au/events/out-the-closet-out-options-older-lgbti-people-risk-homelessness