Housing for the Aged Action Group

Street Smart Raises Funds for HAAG's Work with Older Women

Each month StreetSmart supporters come together to support a grassroots homelessness project through fundraising.

This month Street Smart is raising money for HAAG's work with older women in NSW. Street Smart says,

"Older women are particularly vulnerable and are the fastest growing demographic of people experiencing homelessness. Older women are poorer than men their age, less able to maintain homeownership and less able to compete in the private rental market. Having spent their younger years in more unpaid work - many women lack superannuation in later years and are dependent on meager Aged Pension to get by".

Organisations are asked to encourage their members to fundraise and match the funds that are raised.

This has raised over 4 million dollars for 1418 homelessness projects across the country- with 100% of the funds raised going directly to projects.

To help StreetSmart raise money for HAAG and other grassroots homelessness organisations contact Adam at adam@streetsmartaustralia.org

State Government Invests in Homelessness Services but Falls Short in Providing Essential Housing

On the 13^th of January, Minister for Housing Martin Foley announced that the State Government would invest $45 million in housing services and housing, to tackle the state’s homelessness crisis. While Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) welcomes the focus on early intervention and pathways into long term housing, it would like to see more money invested into housing itself, so that services can offer long-term, rather than band aid solutions.

HAAG makes submission to National Inquiry

HAAG has made a submission to the Inquiry into the Treasury Laws Amendment to the The National Housing and Homelessness Agreement Bill. The bill presents the Australian government with an opportunity to develop a national housing policy that addresses increasing need for secure affordable housing.

Submissions

HAAG's Submission to: Senate Economics Legislation Committee Treasury Laws Amendment (National Housing and Homelessness Agreement) Bill 2017

This submission focuses on the need for the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement Bill to acknowledge the dire circumstances facing an increasing ageing population that is facing a future of housing hardship due to successive government policies that have focused on private rental subsidies in Commonwealth Rent Assistance rather than much needed capital expenditure on public and community housing. This has created a long-term need for investment in public and community housing but also urgently put in place specialist early intervention homelessness support services to assist the thousands of older people experiencing hardship and at risk of homelessness in the private rental market.

Summer OTV- December 2017

Older Tenants' Voice Summer Newsletter - December 2017

Download

HAAG Christmas Party 2017

18 Dec 2017

Online scams workshop

18 Dec 2017

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is seeking to increase awareness of online scams to Victorians aged 60-80. Research indicates that this group suffers the highest level of financial detriment due to scams. CAV are currently planning a scams campaign for 2018 and would like to get some insights into scams issues from some everyday Victorians...

Retirement Housing Matters 2017/ 2018

There has been a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector. Recommendations have been released, and we have met with 30 MP's to hear about what they will do to implement these recommendations. Still, there is much to be done...

Download HAAG's Response to the Retirement Housing Inquiry

Download flyer to help arrange a meeting with your MP

Download the key election asks

Download template letter for MP's

Send an email directly to Premier Daniel Andrews

"The older I get the scarier it becomes": Report on Older people at risk of homelessness in New South Wales

"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.

Read the summary report

Read the Full Report