Now the Labor Party has secured a majority in the Federal Election, Retirement Living Council Executive Director Ben Myers seeks to reach an agreement on helping women at risk of homelessness, which he hopes would see changes to rental assistance laws.
“The issue of more affordable housing for single older women aged over 55 has been discussed extensively with both sides of parliament and we were told to come back after the Budget, as that was locked in stone,” Ben told The SOURCE.
“There is a realisation that something has to be done about women, particularly older women, who we call the “missing middle” – those who have too much money for social housing yet are at risk of homelessness. They may be divorced later in life and living in a rental home with a six to 12-month lease.
“The costs to government will be quite negligible, compared to the cost of having to build new homes. Our solution will help the government achieve one of its goals.”
“We have a people-ready solution that can help the government achieve some of its goals.”
The RLC has a target of 400 homes in the first year of its proposed program.
In March, the Retirement Living Council published a report, “Retirement Living – A solution for older women at risk of homelessness”. The report made eight recommendations, including:
- Establish a $5 million fund to support innovative housing models in age-friendly communities;
- remove the $214,500 incoming contribution price cap for villages;
- make more retirement living properties eligible for Commonwealth Rental Assistance;
- introduce government-backed loans to help eligible people enter retirement communities;
- allow early access to superannuation to help older women secure retirement living housing; and
- allow women to get priority to low-cost retirement housing.
He added that state governments also had to be part of the solution and make land available for the retirement industry.
The RLC already has an established relationship with Julie Collins (pictured), the new Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Small Business.
“Julie was very influential in helping form the council’s Code of Conduct,” Ben said.