New research that uncovers the extent of housing insecurity faced by older Australians will be unveiled at Victoria's homelessness conference in Ballarat this week.
The study by the Swinburne University of Technology in collaboration with the Housing for the Aged Action Group will form one of multiple issues discussed at this year's two-day Victorian Homelessness Conference.
The study has found costly housing, as well as properties that don't meet the basic needs of people in mid to later life, are affecting the health, wellbeing and finances of these Australians.
The report found a system built upon presumptions that older Australians would own their home and not be paying a mortgage or rent during retirement was weakening as more and more people end their working lives without secure housing. It also found women were more likely to be affected by this precarious situation.
Academics, ministers, frontline workers and people with lived experience of homelessness will converge on Ballarat this Thursday and Friday to examine the causes of homelessness and solutions to finally end it.
Sessions over the two days will feature experts exploring issues ranging from First Nations homelessness and solutions, to local government's role in this growing issue, to youth homelessness prevention, regional disadvantage and updates on programs keeping women and children safely housed when they are leaving family violence.
"The housing and homelessness crisis is spiralling out of control. Bringing together experts, leaders and people with lived experience to call out the scale of this crisis and to put forward evidence-backed solutions to end it comes at a critical time in Victoria," Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale said.
Council to Homeless Persons is calling on the Victorian Government to commit to building at least 60,000 new social homes by 2040, as recommended by the government's own Infrastructure expert, Infrastructure Victoria.
"Homelessness can happen to anyone. Young, or old, single, or with children. We know women and children are overrepresented in the statistics, and it must end. We are bringing together the people with the knowledge to resolve this emergency. If our leaders listen and act on their advice, Victorian lives will be saved from needless misery," Deborah Di Natale said.
The Victorian Homelessness Conference program includes the following sessions:
Lived Experience Conversation Hour
People with lived experience of homelessness set the agenda, speaking to what matters most in the work to end homelessness.
Housing First from Turtle Island to Kulin Nation
A conversation about Housing First in practice in Canada and here on Country with Aboriginal leadership, and the conditions needed for Housing First to thrive.
Ending First Nations Homelessness
Exploring how Victoria's new Aboriginal entry points and outreach programs are reshaping understanding and responses to First Nations homelessness.
A Fair Go for Regional Victoria
Examining how distance and dispersed communities shape homelessness in regional and rural areas, and the innovative local responses emerging across the state.
Safe at Home
A panel on preventing homelessness through early intervention with households experiencing family violence, supporting women and children to remain safely in their homes while the violence is addressed.
Ballarat Youth Frontline: Partnerships for Prevention
Showcasing how local collaborations in Ballarat are preventing youth homelessness and supporting young people already experiencing homelessness.
Redefining local government's role in ending homelessness
Exploring how councils, as the closest level of government to communities, can respond more constructively to homelessness.
The full program can be found here: https://chp.org.au/conference/program/
