Data released today showing that just 0.3% of rentals are affordable for a person on the Age Pension should act as a wake up call to political leaders ahead of Saturday’s election, COTA Australia says.
Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Index, which is a snapshot of 51,238 rental listings across Australia, found that there were just 165 rentals affordable for someone on the Age Pension, and even fewer (28) for someone on the Disability Support Pension. For couples on the Aged Pension, 0.7% of rental listings are available – a record low.
COTA Australia – the leading advocacy organisation for older people – Chief Executive, Patricia Sparrow, said the figures make the fact that Australia’s political leaders have been silent on rental housing issues this election campaign even more concerning.
“We’re in the grips of a housing crisis, and people like older women are right at the epicentre of it, yet our politicians seem intent on all but ignoring the issue,” Ms Sparrow said.
“Older women are one of the fastest growing groups at risk of homelessness. They’re locked out of home ownership and they’re priced out of rentals, which is forcing them onto couches, into dog and cat sitting arrangements and whatever else it takes to keep a roof over their heads.
“Whoever gets elected on Saturday needs to act on this issue urgently. Our political leaders have been too quiet on this serious issue in the lead up to the election. That needs to change.
“In addition to building new community and public housing, political parties need to commit to urgently increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) by 60%, and to create innovative programs to help older women find affordable housing and navigate the housing system.
“Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Index is horrifically sobering reading, but unfortunately the statistics will come as little surprise to Australians, including older Australians, who are living the rental and housing crisis day in and day out.
“No one is saying that solving the problem will be easy, or that there’s a single solution. The crisis among older women has come about as a result of a perfect storm of factors, including decades of gender pay gaps leaving women with insufficient retirement savings, chronic low wages in female-dominated industries, career interruptions for unpaid caregiving, skyrocketing rents pricing fixed-income retirees out of the market and a critical shortage of appropriate public and community housing.
“But we need to start somewhere. The answers are there – we need our politicians to start listening and acting.”
Media contact: Tamara Kotoyan, 0430 291 890 or Alana Mew, 0419 929 722