Housing News Digest
Housing News Digest
The Tenants' Union Housing News Digest compiles our pick of items from all the latest tenancy and housing media, sent once per week, on Thursdays.
Below is the Digest archive from November 2020 onwards. From time to time you will find additional items in the archive that did not make it into the weekly Digest email. Earlier archives are here, where you can also find additional digests by other organisations.
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Archive
4 key takeaways from the aged care royal commission’s final report
Stephen Duckett and Anika Stobart The Conversation (No paywall)The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s final report into aged care has laid out an extensive plan to overhaul Australia’s aged-care system. Among the 148 recommendations, the report calls for a new system underpinned by a rights-based Act, funding based on need, and much stronger regulation and transparency.
https://theconversation.com/4-key-takeaways-from-the-aged-care-r…
# Hot topic Australia, Federal Government, Older people.Byron Bay's rental crisis enters 'uncharted territory' as professionals, volunteers struggle to secure lease
Leah White ABC (No paywall)After years of supporting others to find secure accommodation, Cherie Bromley never imagined she would find herself on the receiving end of the housing crisis on the far north coast of New South Wales. "I didn't even approach the real estates because I just knew there was nothing out there," she said. For the past decade, Ms Bromley has been working for the Byron Community Centre, which provides a number of services, including support for the town's homeless population.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-01/rental-housing-crisis-in-…
# Hot topic NSW, Rent, Affordable housing, Housing market.US President Joe Biden scores win as House passes $US1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan
ABC (No paywall)US President Joe Biden has scored his first legislative win as the House of Representatives passed his $US1.9 trillion ($2.44 trillion) coronavirus relief package early ... The bill's big ticket items include $1,800 direct payments to individuals, a $520-per-week federal unemployment benefit through August 29, and help for those in difficulty paying rents and home mortgages during the pandemic.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-27/us-president-joe-biden-1-…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.Here's what's in Biden's $1.9 trillion economic rescue package
Tami Luhby and Katie Lobosco (No paywall)And here's what's in Joe Biden's rescue package ... Rental assistance and eviction moratorium: The plan would provide $25 billion in rental assistance for low- and moderate-income households who have lost jobs during the pandemic. That's in addition to the $25 billion lawmakers provided in December. Another $5 billion would be set aside to help struggling renters to pay their utility bills. Biden is also calling for $5 billion to help states and localities assist those at risk of experiencing homelessness. The plan would extend the federal eviction moratorium, set to expire at the end of January, to September 30, as well as allow people with federally-guaranteed mortgages to apply for forbearance until September 30. (CNN)
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/biden-economic-rescu…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.Budget 2021: experts react ... Housing
Alexander Tziamilis The Conversation (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Rishi Sunak has unveiled his second budget as UK chancellor a year into the coronavirus pandemic and during the worst economic collapse in centuries. Our panel of experts offer their views on what he has announced.
https://theconversation.com/budget-2021-experts-react-156414
# International, Housing market.This is how we create the age-friendly smart city
Sonja Pedell and Anna Borda The Conversation (No paywall)Senior citizens need help and encouragement to remain active as they age in their own communities. Given the choice, that’s what most would prefer. The smart city can provide the digital infrastructure for them to find and tailor the local neighbourhood information they need to achieve this. Australia has a growing population of older adults, the majority living in cities. The challenge, then, is to ensure city environments meet their needs and personal goals.
https://theconversation.com/this-is-how-we-create-the-age-friend…
# Australia, Older people, Planning and development.My mum was in a good nursing home. It still failed her, and that's the problem Australia faces
Amanda Meade The Guardian (No paywall)It wasn’t the fault of dedicated staff – the system let us down, and it needs to change
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/03/my-mum-was…
# Australia, Federal Government, Older people.Housing association to open UK’s first LGBTQ+ retirement community
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Tonic Housing, which was set up in 2014 to address the issues of loneliness and isolation among older LGBTQ+ people, has received a loan as part of the mayor’s Community Housing Fund to purchase 19 homes within Bankhouse, an assisted living scheme in Lambeth developed by One Housing.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/housing-association-to-open…
# International, Public and community housing, Affordable housing, LGBTIQ+.