Housing for the Aged Action Group

In this episode we talk to an activist named Glen about his experiences in the struggle for housing justice in the 80s and 90s, and how the circumstances and campaigns of that era compare to today.

Shane talks to Ricki Spencer, an older transgender sociologist and member of HAAG's LGBTI community reference group about what the group is doing towards improving housing justice for older LGBTI people.To get involved, call 03 9654 7389To get advice about your housing options, call 1300 765 768Complete the LGBTI housing survey

We hear from four older women about their experiences of homelessness - Vanessa, Jo, Robyn and Lynette - who were recently featured in a short film, funded through Streetsmart. We then hear the voices of ten older women from Queensland, NSW and Victoria talking about their experiences and calling for politicians to act to address the housing crisis for older women.

Shane speaks to Bernie Duff, who was HAAG's first full-time employee in the early 90s, about how we got involved in housing activism, successes and challenges in the struggle for housing justice, and what that history can teach us about our struggles today, in the election and beyond. 

Shane and Fiona talk to Emma Bacon, Executive Director of Sweltering Cities about their recent survey into housing and heat, and how older Public Housing tenants in highrises in Melbourne are coping (or not coping) with heat waves. Find out more at swelteringcities.org

We hear from the LGBTI housing panel at the National Housing Conference, held in Melbourne 3-5 March 2022, including Andrew Rogers. 

Fiona talks to Margaret Kelly, long-time public housing resident of Barack Beaconsfield estate in Port Melbourne which has recently and unexpectedly been slated for "renewal" by the State Government. Shocked residents are fighting back about what they see as the destruction of their close-knit community to make way for gentrification of the area.

Katelyn Butters, CEO of Victorian Public Tenants Association, talks about the Social Housing Regulation Interim Report and what the implications are for public and community housing tenants.Gemma White, Early Intervention Worker at HAAG, talks about how people can get involved in lobbying their MPs and candidates for the upcoming Federal ElectionSocial Housing Regulation Interim ReportFederal Election Advocacy Tool Kit

Shane and Fiona interview Joan Doyle and Maureen Donnelly about housing activism in the 1970's and 1980's, where groups of people took direct action for housing justice, including squatting empty government housing, protesting at Parliament and lots of other creative forms of action. A great insight into the early days of HAAG and testimony to the change that can happen through people "standing on their two legs" to take their housing rights

We pay tribute to our long-time member Richard Tate who sadly passed away late last year, and play a short clip from his talk to the Unitarian Church about the importance of public housing. We hear from panellists who spoke at last year's At Risk Forum about local solutions to older women's homelessness. First we hear from Erin Dolan, Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, about the foundations Affordable Housing Challenge funding. Then we hear from Rebecca Oelkers, CEO of the Brisbane Housing Company about their older women's housing project. The panel is hosted by Dr Kate Raynor from Melbourne University.You can watch the complete video of the panel here