Publications

Annual Report 2016 - 2017

Annual Report for 2016 - 2017 Financial Year

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Submission to Inquiry into the Public Housing Renewal 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

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Spring September 2017

Newsletter September Spring 2017 Older Tenants' Voice

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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.

Nomination Form 2017-2018

Nominate for HAAG's committee of management by returning this form by 8th November 2017.
You must be a current member to nominate, second or accept a nomination.
Please call  03 9654 7389 to ensure your membership is current. 

Download nomination form here

Finding a Suitable Home for Older People at Risk of Homelessness in South Australia

A report released today based on the latest 2016 Census is showing a rapidly rising number of older people at risk of homelessness in South Australia. This research, a partnership between Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) and The University of Adelaide’s Centre for Housing Urban and Regional Planning (CHURP) and funded by The Wicking Trust, has found that a significant number of older people in the private rental market in South Australia are living in housing poverty. 
Read the Summary Report Read the Full Report

HAAG membership form Bosnian

Download the HAAG membership form in Bosnian here

HAAG Membership form Vietnamese

Download HAAG membership form in Vietnamese here

HAAG Membership form Turkish

Download the HAAG membership form in Turkish here

Formulario de membresía de HAAG

Los hispanos son uno de los grupos lingüísticos más grandes que Home at Last ayuda. Queremos que exprese su opinión sobre cómo funciona nuestra organisación y cómo podemos trabajar para cambiar las políticas gubernamentales para mejorar. Puede expresar su opinión por conviértase en miembro de HAAG, es gratis unirse.
Llame al 9654 7389 para más información.

Descargue el formulario de membresía de HAAG en español

HAAG Membership form Mandarin

Download HAAG membership form in Mandarin here

HAAG Membership form Macedonian

Download HAAG membership form in Macedonian here

HAAG Membership form Italian

Download HAAG membership form in Italian here

HAAG Membership form Greek

Download HAAG Membership form in Greek here

Arabic Membership Form

Other than English speakers, Arabic speakers are the largest language group that Home at Last assists. As such, we want you to have your say on how our organisation works and how we can work towards changing government policies to make your life better. You can have your say by becoming a HAAG member. It is free for pensioners.

Download the HAAG membership form in Arabic here

Online Resources for Retirement Housing

These resources will help you if you are searching for retirement housing or independent living units.

Find them here

Retirement Housing In Victoria Communique

"On 8 June 2017, 24 representatives from resident advocacy groups, universities, industry, ombudsman schemes, government agencies and regulators met in Melbourne at an Experts’ Forum to discuss the future of retirement housing regulation in Victoria. We were also joined by academics and advocates from interstate jurisdictions.

The Experts’ Forum followed the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the retirement housing sector, which released its final report on 7 March 2017. The Inquiry received 766 submissions and heard from 90 witnesses. The vast majority of evidence was received from residents.

The message to the Inquiry was clear: residents expect change. While many residents generally enjoy life in their choice of retirement housing, many are also frustrated by a system they see as geared in favour of operators. Some feel that instead of prioritising residents, operators are more concerned about satisfying shareholders.

Residents gave evidence to the Inquiry about what they see as unjustifiable exit fees, complex contracts and poor dispute resolution."

See the full report here

Pensioner provides' Comfort and Smile' to older renters

Eighty year old Retirement Village resident June Walkeden knows its tough paying bills on a pension, so she spends her free time hand making quilts to keep older people who have been at risk of homelessness warm.

Shocking New Census Data Shows Most Older Renters in Severe Poverty

Shocking new data from the ABS Census shows that 84% of single older* private renters in the Greater Melbourne region are in housing stress,  and the majority (54%) are in severe stress paying more than half their income in rent, forcing many older people into abject poverty and ill health. Current trends suggest this situation is only going to get worse with an ageing population and more people expected to be retiring in rental housing in the future rather than home ownership.

 

Innovative Service Houses its 600th Client During Homelessness Week

Homelessness Week 2017 focuses on Innovation and Action and by the end of this week, a Melbourne-based Innovation Action Project will house its 600th older person. The Home at Last Service is the only one in Australia that focuses on preventing homelessness in over 55’s.

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