Seniors’ groups talk housing affordability ahead of the budget

You might remember the Treasurer Scott Morrison talking about the issue of housing affordability in a speech two weeks ago?

Well, with the countdown to the budget continuing, seniors’ groups have given their feedback on the Treasurer’s speech and set out what they would like the government to do about seniors housing.

From addressing issues with aged care to creating more community housing, removing disincentives to downsizing and providing assistance to struggling retired renters, seniors’ groups have a number of areas of housing they’d like the government to deal with.

Aged and Community Services Australia CEO Pat Sparrow said it was pleasing to see the government and opposition paying attention to the issue of providing secure and affordable housing for old Australians.

 She described the issue as “a challenge the country must rise to meet”.

“ACSA has identified housing as a priority policy area,” she told Starts at 60.

“There are a number of areas of particular interest for aged care including provision of affordable housing, ensuring that housing supports the delivery of quality care services and how housing can be used to give older people choice about how to finance their aged care needs.

“Initiatives which support older Australians to right size their accommodation are incredibly important and ACSA supports the fact that consideration is being given to ways to address these issues.”

While ACSA is supportive of moves to address the issues facing older Australians and housing, Sparrow told Starts at 60 they wanted to see the details of how any measures would be structured and rolled out.

“Consideration also needs to be given  to how to remove inequitable hurdles, both real and perceived, to support consumers unlock the equity in their home to pay for their ageing and aged care services,” she said.

“ACSA is looking forward to seeing the details and to working with government to ensure older Australians can live in a place of their choosing receiving the services they need in a way which is financially sustainable.”

The Housing for the Aged Action Group has also been watching the Treasurer’s comments and the government closely in the lead up to the Federal Budget.

They believe his speech to the AHURI on April 10 was a sign the government intends to make a number of significant changes to the funding of the housing and homelessness sector.

In a statement to Starts at 60, HAAG was critical of the Treasurer’s comments about axing the National Affordable Housing Agreement, describing them as “outrageous.”

“The NAHA needs to be improved, not axed, with increased funding allocated specifically to the building of housing for the almost 200, 000 people on public housing lists across Australia,” the organisation stated.

HAAG was also critical of the prospect of transferring public housing stock, stating that tenants must be given a choice about whether they want to give up their public housing rights to enter a social housing contract.

And while the organisation would welcome any government investment in affordable housing, it pointed out that public housing was the most affordable and secure for older people.

They believe an older person housing strategy would provide a range of housing options, giving older people more diverse housing and aged care.

HAAG also believes a housing strategy for older Australians would help them sustain longer term rental accommodation and provide services to help older Australians make informed decisions about their housing needs.

“Generally older people rent in the private market out of necessity rather than choice,” the organisation said in a statement to Starts at 60.

“Private rental housing is fundamentally insecure, unaffordable, unsafe and unadaptable for older people.

“Affordability of private rental accommodation is a key problem. Public housing provides a housing option to renters that is affordable, where there is security of tenure and where housing can be modified depending on their needs as they age.”

Another seniors’ group that has been vocal in the lead up to the budget is National Seniors Australia.

National Seniors Australia chief advocate Ian Henschke took the Treasurer’s speech two weeks ago as a sign the housing affordability issue is a “high priority” for the government.

“We need less party politics and more common sense politics,” he told Starts at 60.

“If you’ve got someone living in a home that’s unsafe for them and costing them money but won’t move out because they could lose their pension, then just let them move and keep their pension.”

The National Seniors are among the organisations who have made detailed submissions to the budget.

Tell us, what do you think of what the seniors’ groups have to say? Will the government take notice of their advice/feedback?