ARC Delivering Housing Solutions that meet Older Peoples Housing Aspirations

Overview

Population ageing requires a structural shift in the way policymakers and practitioners think about housing. There is presently a mismatch between Australia’s housing stock and the changing needs of ageing cohorts as the potential of age-friendly and adaptable housing models remain unrealised. Drawing on the expertise of a national team of researchers, business, government and not-for-profit partners, this project will co-create evidence-based strategies for delivering innovative solutions to meet older Australians’ housing aspirations. Using mixed methods, this project will address diversity among older cohorts and the critical challenge of supporting the housing aspirations of vulnerable older persons facing severe financial constraints.

Objectives

The objectives of this project are organised under 5 broad categories:

1. Document the degree of (mis)match between Australia’s ageing population and the existing housing stock and shed light on the extent to which this (mis)match varies spatially and has changed over time.
2. Develop a contemporary understanding of how older Australians’ housing aspirations vary across diverse groups and unpack the drivers that shape these aspirations.
3. Identify key challenges to delivering housing choice that meet the housing aspirations of vulnerable older Australians and develop solutions to address these challenges.
4. Generate a typology of age-friendly housing models for older people in Australia across tenures that unpacks each model’s features, benefits, drawbacks, and potential for meeting older Australians’ housing aspirations.
5. Draw out policies and programs that deliver housing options that meet the aspirations of older Australians.

Industry Outcomes

This project aims to deliver the following key industry outcomes:

1. Develop innovative age-friendly housing models that can promote social connection among older people, enable ageing in place, and meet older people’s housing aspirations.
2. Deliver housing solutions that are affordable for vulnerable older Australians.
3. Inform housing strategies to support the wellbeing of ageing populations in both urban and regional communities.
4. Provide a catalyst for much-needed future-focused planning to expand housing options for older cohorts.