Public housing alarms seniors group
Australia should be “alarmed” that an increasing number of older Victorians have been on public housing waiting lists for years – with some dying before being allocated accommodation, writes Sue Hendy, chief executive of COTA Victoria.
Australia should be “alarmed” that an increasing number of older Victorians have been on public housing waiting lists for years – with some dying before being allocated accommodation, writes Sue Hendy, chief executive of COTA Victoria.
According to Ms Hendy, for the many who rely solely on the aged pension, their problems are compounded by the rising costs of living, including electricity, gas and water charges.
“Private rental housing is too expensive, and older people can be on waiting lists for years, and even for decades, such is the severe shortage of both public and private rental housing,” she writes in The Herald Sun.
The housing situation is so alarming that, according to Ms Hendy, for the first time in their lives many older people – particularly women – are facing homelessness.
Describing the situation as “desperate”, Ms Hendy claims the housing problems faced by older people have been “partially” addressed by the national housing affordability and rental schemes.
“If urgent action is not taken, the situation will worsen dramatically in coming years as the number of older people needing affordable rental housing climbs steadily.
“Unfortunately, recent responses to an ageing population have been piecemeal and inadequate.”
Australian governments need to address ageism to ensure older people are “valued and recognised” as citizens with the same rights and responsibilities as others.
“The availability of suitable housing is essential if older people are to ‘age well’.”
Ms Hendy lists “appropriate, accessible and affordable housing” as fundamental to both physical and mental health.
She also stresses the importance of building more public housing and fairer housing allocation to ensure the system is “more flexible… and suitable housing better meets changing needs”.
“If we don’t, then we will end up with an unacceptable increase in the numbers of older homeless people, and more 85 year old women living in their cars on the street,” she says.
Many of COTA’s recommendations to improve the lives of older Victorians are included in its submission to the recent parliamentary inquiry into opportunities for participation by senior Victorians, which is yet to be considered by the Victorian government.
To become part of this campaign and sign COTA’s e-petition, visit the COTA Victoria website.
