Appropriate housing is key for health and wellbeing, as it provides not only security and stability, but autonomy and freedom to pursue other interests, keep connected and contributing to community.
After retiring, most people have their income linked to the federal government age pension, limiting the ability to increase income and assets, and making them vulnerable to changes in housing affordability. From 2013 to 2015, less than 1% of the properties sold in the Perth Metropolitan Area were considered affordable to very low income households (less than $42,850 p.a.).
There is a lack of stable and affordable housing options outside social housing for older people who cannot afford full home ownership. In 2018, for instance, less than 2% of available private rental properties in Perth’s metropolitan area were affordable and appropriate for a single person on an age pension. Less than 5% were affordable for a couple on an age pension.
Connect Victoria Park is involved in advocacy to increase and improve affordability of housing for older people in Western Australia.
As co-chair of the Ageing on the Edge project, Connect Victoria Park has contributed to the One Rent Increase From Disaster report. We are also currently running a program to support older women in finding and applying for age-friendly housing.
To know more about Connect Victoria Park's housing and how to apply, please email ceo@connectvictoriapark.org.