Question for people who rent their home?

[witches*wol]

ACA or one of those shows had a segment on people who rent reaching a point of no long being able to afford the increasing rental prices and ending up homeless.

They were not refering to "down and out" people but regular folk who had been cruising along renting nicely but then perhaps lost their jobs and could not afford to pay the rent on their homes anymore and having to either move in with family or live in their cars.

The bloke they interviewed (from some housing assoc) was saying that people who have rented all their lives and then hit retirement are suddenly realising that their super is not going to last very long while they are still paying $300 or more a week in rent and once their super is gone the age pension sure as hell wont cover it.

So what happens to people who do rent when they reach retirement?  Are we going to be looking at a growing group of homeless elderly people? 

[the_hawk*]

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@witches*wol wrote:

We are doing all we can to envourage our boys to stay living at home with us and to buy a property and rent it out while they live with us.  (They are both still at high school so it is a few years off yet) but I really don't want to see them out renting.  It really is dead money, although it definately has it's place - hubby and I rented when we first left home.  But if at all possible I think the young ones should stay home and take the opportunity to get a property of their own.

Carl ~ I can relate to your point about not getting to retirement.  I seriously doubt I will see retirement age and to be honest so far my retirement plan is suicide!  I have sweet fanny adams in Super having not worked in a "real job" for 18 years.  We do almost own our house, while that will give us a roof over our heads it wont pay the bills so I figure we will check out where we are in the nest 25 years and if things haven't improved I'll just drop off the perch.

I have a friend who works in aged care, doing the paperwork for people going into nursing homes.  With the massive increase in bonds and weekly fees that people are being faced with, she was telling me the suicide rate among these people is increasing daily.  Once they realise they can't afford to pay for care they end their lives - bloody sad isn't it?

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and to think we are the lucky country

perhaps if they caused a little more inconvenience like walking out on the freeway in peak hour they may get a little bit more attention.

Bank robery would get them free board and meals. 

[witches*wol]

Well Hawke you know it has been said before that the elderly would be better off in Prison cause we treat prisoners better than we treat pensioners!

[the_hawk*]

I have heard of homeless people doing things when its very cold to get locked up for  the night to have a warm bed and Mcdonalds while in the cells over night

[just_me_karen]

Hawk it is never ok to suggest suicide as an option, especially in the way you posted which would involve innocent people in vehicles...and even more importantly, suggesting it to people who are at a vulnerable period in their lives. You don't know how viewers of this thread are feeling.

OP, there are low cost housing options in most communities. For example, most churches and charities offer pensioner apartments. Clubs do too and in some places even hospitals do. These are high standard accommodation options and generally given to people who aren't publicly housed. Another option is van park / mobile hone villages. some of them specialise in 50+ and are really nice with excellent facilities. Private rental can be risky for the elderly so it's a good idea to plan early.

Also, the bond arrangements for aged care have recently changed so its not as brutal as it was.

[the_hawk*]

It wasnt my suggestion, I only point out it was a way of making people aware of their plite, rather then gdoing it quietly so no one notices or cares. 

[*elizabeths-mum*]

There are public beds in private nursing homes/aged care facilities too. I have no idea how they are accessed though.
We have elderly come through our system as well, often very aggressive men suffering from dementia whose wives have been struggling to care for them at home.