adequate or secure tenure underpins every decision, action and worry. For example, weighing up a Aus $. bus fare against a loaf of bread (p. ) demonstrates that the choices… Click to show full abstract
adequate or secure tenure underpins every decision, action and worry. For example, weighing up a Aus $. bus fare against a loaf of bread (p. ) demonstrates that the choices people have are really no choice at all when it comes to living a decent life. The book has ten chapters. The first two covering an introduction to housing tenure and an ageing society, the private rental market and the policy issues related to older Australians. The third introduces the capacity to pay for accommodation on the Age Pension. Chapter investigates shopping – a major activity for older Australians. Purchasing power is closely linked the ability to live a decent life. Chapter examines how financial limitations affect day-to-day living, such as paying for electricity to heat the home in winter. Chapter looks at social ties and leisure activities; and the impact of housing tenure and limited finances on health are covered in Chapter . Chapter returns to the private rental market and reveals the potential for eviction due to the pending sale of the property. With recent policy shifts, public housing tenants now worry that their home will be targeted for urban renewal and fear they will be forced to move from their established community. The theme is continued in Chapter by discussing the increasing residualisation of social housing and its implications for older tenants. Chapter concludes by asking where to from here? The discussion reviews the previous chapters and provides a final comparison between the three groups in the study: outright home-owners, renters in the private market and renters in public or social housing. The methodology is covered in the appendices. Endnotes, references and an index are also provided. For those who work in the community sector, particularly in housing or ageing advocacy services, the book provides few, if any, new revelations. It does, however, document this knowledge using the words and experiences of older Australians. The book gives voice to these experiences, brings to life the issues, and adds emphasis to the demands for policy change by housing and ageing advocacy groups.
               
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