This 63-year-old, who may have to live in a camper van, wants to see the major political parties do more for older Australians. In three weeks, Tracy Adams starts chemotherapy for bowel cancer. She will also be evicted from her home.
The 63-year-old has been living in her Queensland rental for five years and, despite her landlords knowing she has just been diagnosed with cancer, they have told her to go. “A few weeks ago they gave me basically a month’s notice to leave because they said they think they’ll have a better chance of selling the place if it’s vacant,” Adams says.
The Council on the Ageing, a peak charity representing Australians aged over 50, is calling on major parties to commit to more affordable housing for elderly renters – particularly women, who are disproportionately experiencing homelessness. Advocates warn the number of elderly women living in poverty will keep rising dramatically unless the federal government helps more.
