Lyn Bailey thought she was luckier than most people facing homelessness because she had her car to sleep in.
After working for 50 years, at the age of 73 Ms Bailey's marriage broke down and she could not find an affordable place to rent in the Illawarra region of coastal New South Wales.
"I'd line up to inspect places and someone behind you would say, 'Oh, yes. We are prepared to pay an extra $100 a week if we can get this place'," she said.
"I'd think, 'I can't even afford what they are asking'."
She approached social services and was told there was a 10-to-15-year waiting list in the region for public housing.
"It was the scariest and [most] stressful time of my life that I have been through," Ms Bailey said.
She eventually found a one-bedroom place to rent through the Illawarra-based not-for-profit group, Housing Trust.
Ms Bailey now advocates for people who have experienced homelessness and last year provided a submission to a NSW parliamentary inquiry into the situation for people aged over 55.
She urged the state government to consider lowering the age limit for access to the Housing Elderly Persons priority group from 80 to 55, or at least to 60.
Nine recommendations supported
The government this week released its response to the Coalition-led inquiry's findings and, despite recommendations that the age be lowered from to 55 years to 45 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the government chose not to adopt it.
The report found:
"Changes to the eligibility criteria to preference one group must be carefully assessed to ensure they do not inadvertently discriminate against other vulnerable groups."
Of the 40 recommendations from the inquiry, the government supported nine, offered in principle support to 24 and noted seven.
The government also rejected recommendations to investigate targeted rent assistance and brokerage funds for older people, or to create a support service comprised of early intervention and crisis responses — similar to the Home at Last model in Victoria.
Ms Bailey said she was "horrified" by the government's response.
"It's almost like the government has looked at it and put it in the too hard basket," she said.
"To think people have to wait till they are 80 to be put in the priority list, it's unrealistic.
"There is so much additional emotional and mental health trauma attached to this. It's increasing the risk of suicide."
Minister points to investment
Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the government's priority was for everyone in NSW to have a safe and stable place to call home.
"In 2022-23, we are investing $1.2 billion to tackle housing and homelessness through assertive homelessness outreach, early intervention and social and affordable housing across the state," she said.
The government said it recognised the growing trend of people becoming homeless for the first time later in life, and had invested $30 million for approximately 80 new small-scale social housing.
Advocacy groups devastated
The Older Women's Network [OWN] during the inquiry told the government the current age limit was "ageist", "inhumane" and "cruel".
OWN chief executive Yumi Lee said the government's response to the recommendations was "callous".
"It is devastating, on behalf of all the older women who are desperately trying to get some housing security," she said.
"Imagine having to wait until you are 80 years old before you can get in the priority list.
"It is so unacceptable."
She said increasing numbers of older people, especially older women, were falling into housing insecurity and homelessness.
"This inquiry was an opportunity for the government to hear what is happening on the ground," Ms Lee said.
"All the recommendations were unanimously supported and, unfortunately, the government has turned its back on some of the most practical ways put forward to solve the problem."
Ms Lee said the creation of a specialist early intervention agency was critical.
"If you are constantly under stress, couch surfing, living in your car, how can you have the reserve to build a better life?" she said.
She said older people deserved to live the last year's of their lives "with some degree of peace and comfort".
