Census figures show rise in numbers of homeless elderly people

On the night of the 2006 census, 18,000 men and women over the age of 55 were recorded as homeless in Australia, figures that may have risen further since the economic slump.

Data released from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare(AIHW), ‘Counting the Homeless’, has shown that these latest figures drawn from the 2006 census show a significant increase in the numbers of elderly people who are homeless.

The Rudd Government has produced a White Paper ‘Which Way Home’, in which it has pledged to halve homelessness by 2020 but there are calls for direct action on the plight of the elderly homeless.

“Our aged care industry has strongly advocated about the need for a greater focus on the needs of elderly homeless people,” said Greg Knox, acting CEO of ACCV. Victorian figures show that there were 2,666 elderly homeless in the state on the night of the census.

“The Rudd Government’s White Paper initiatives, particularly in new housing projects, must be given time to generate an impact on reducing general homeless numbers, but the Government must also be asked how it intends to tackle the particular problem of aged homelessness,” said Knox. “There must be a greater focus not only on housing, but a priority focus on how our elderly homeless can access appropriate aged care services.”

“For the Government to achieve a halving of elderly homelessness, a minimum of 9,000 aged people will have to be assisted to access affordable housing,” said Bryan Lipmann, CEO of Wintringham, providers of aged care services to homeless elderly people. “It is important to note also that it is Wintringham’s experience that a great many of these elderly homeless people will also need access to appropriate Aged Care services.”

“The White Paper pledged a fully funded aged care facility for the elderly homeless, to
be built every year, for the next 4 years,” said Knox. “At best, this will deliver only 200-250 beds.”

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