ABSTRACT

There is a lack of understanding of older people’s precarious housing circumstances in rural communities around the world, in countries like Australia. A range of homelessness definitions exist across the Western world, and are linked to differing purposes including census enumeration, legislation and policy guidelines that shape service provision. There is broad consensus that structural factors, in particular a shortage of affordable housing, are the fundamental drivers of homelessness, with personal issues increasing a person’s vulnerability to structural factors and therefore homelessness. The recognition of older people in housing and homelessness policy and service provision is arguably less than other cohorts. Living in private rental housing, at risk of homelessness has serious consequences for the effective implementation of aged care policy. The chapter concludes by examining the nature and adequacy of policies and services for rural older people and concludes that a lack of policy integration hampers prevention.