Maria* was 73 years old when, in a state of desperation, she applied for one of Royal Freemasons’ Independent Living units.
At a time when many retirees are enjoying the fruits of their labour, Maria was still working part time to cover rent and everyday living expenses. The part pension she received simply wasn’t enough to make ends meet.
Then things took a turn for the worse when Maria developed complex, long-term health issues, which brought her working life to an unexpected halt.
Anxious and stressed, when Maria contacted Royal Freemasons, she could only afford her rent of $480 per week for another two months. Her savings were nearly exhausted, and she was on the verge of being homeless.
Seeing the direness of her situation, Royal Freemasons eagerly helped Maria by placing her in one of our low-rent, subsidised Independent Living Units (ILUs), giving her a safe and affordable place to live.
Sadly, Maria’s situation is reflective of a wider social trend in Melbourne and across Australia, with women now among the fastest-growing groups experiencing homelessness. At Royal Freemasons, we are seeing this trend firsthand, with an increasing number of ILU applicants on the precipice of homelessness — many of them women.
Lower lifetime earnings, limited assets, and broken relationships are driving factors behind this trend, alongside rising costs of living, housing and rental pressure, and the impacts of domestic and family violence.
In response, last year we introduced eligibility criteria to ensure preference and priority is given to older people experiencing hardship, who have limited assets and are at risk of homelessness.
As Jenni Dickson, Royal Freemasons General Manager of Community Services and Independent Living Units, says, “Over the last couple of years, we have seen a significant increase in applicants facing serious personal and financial hardship. Many are experiencing anxiety and depression as a result, which is why we prioritise applications from those most in need.”
Caring for older Victorians in vulnerable circumstances is at the heart of Royal Freemasons’ mission. In fact, our story began with this very purpose: providing affordable accommodation for older people. In 1867, the first cottage was built on our Punt Road site in Melbourne, marking the birth of Victoria’s first not-for-profit aged care provider.
We are proud that, more than 159 years later, this mission is still alive, and we continue to be a beacon of compassion and support for aging and vulnerable Victorians like Maria.
If you would like to find out more about our Independent Living Units, located across Melbourne and regional Victoria, please visit: royalfreemasons.org.au/independent-living
* The name of the resident in this story has been changed to protect her privacy.
