Struggling elderly residents need not live in poor-quality housing thanks to a new state government-funded program.
Home at Last, launched last month by Moorabool council, is an early-intervention and pre-crisis response program for older people experiencing housing instability and living in insecure, unaffordable private rental homes.
Housing for the Aged Action Group manager Jeff Feidler said an alliance of key agencies, including Moorabool Shire Council, Aged Care Assessment Services, Djerriwarrh Health Services and other service providers and government departments, would work together to address those issues.
“Older people have a right to a decent home in their retirement years, but increasing numbers of older people are struggling to survive” he said.
“General issues for this at risk group include, market forces, illness or age-related disability, low income or pensioner status, low levels of life-savings such as superannuation, loss of a loved one or family breakdown forcing a person to cope with paying rent on one income.”
Mr Feidler said home ownership rates were declining across the nation and Australia’s population was ageing.
He said many elderly residents were forced to rent in the unregulated private market because of a lack of public investment over the years.
“We need smaller units with appropriate accessibility,” Mr Feidler said.
The latest housing data shows there were more than 300 people of 60 or older renting in insecure private rental accommodation in Moorabool in 2011, an 86 per cent increase over the five-year period from 2006.
Moorabool residents are being invited to an information session to be held on May 30. Details: www.oldertenantsorg.au/home_at_last
