Accessing in-home aged care is dependent on having a secure and affordable home. With a growing number of older Australians facing housing insecurity and homelessness, new approaches are needed to ensure access to both secure housing and in-home aged care.
Homelessness in Australia has become a national talking point. With increases in rent, the cost of living and the shortage of vacant homes, we have seen a growth in “tent cities” across the nation. The housing crisis has impacts on older people and their access to in-home aged care.
Accessing in-home aged care is dependent on having a secure and affordable home. The Australian retirement and aged care system is built on the expectation that older people will own a home at the time of retirement. Research conducted by Housing for the Aged Action Group shows that an increasing number of older people do not own their own home outright, with 42% of older people over 55 years renting privately or retiring with a mortgage. The total number of older private renters increased by 73% between 2011 and 2021 – more than double the rate of increase in the number of people in this age group.
Australia’s private rental sector does not provide security of tenure, affordability or accessibility for older low-income households, with a growing number of older people in Australia living in marginal housing and experiencing homelessness.
Single older women are amongst the most vulnerable groups in terms of their access to safe, affordable housing. A recent parliamentary inquiry found that older women are the “face” of homelessness in NSW. For many older women housing insecurity and/or homelessness is a first-time experience, with unemployment, ill health or relationship breakdown being the catalyst.
Connecting Home Plus is a tailored pilot program that supports older women in the Northern Rivers who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Our dedicated team provides one-on-one support to help older women find and keep safe, appropriate housing, while also assisting with financial guidance and community connection.
Connecting Home Plus is funded through The Homelessness Innovation Fund (HIF), a recent initiative of the NSW government to “equip homelessness organisations with the tools to develop creative and innovative solutions to the housing crisis”.
With the support of HIF Social Futures has developed Accommodation Services where staff work onsite at temporary accommodation locations providing strength-based and trauma-informed support for those experiencing homelessness. These are based in Tweed Heads, Ballina and soon to be in Grafton.
Thank you to Susan Knight, Team Leader – Connecting Home at Social Futures, for initiating and assisting in the writing of this article.
