Housewell Agewell

Wendy Morris's activism is based on her lived experience of being a renter for many years, across a range of housing types. From private rentals to housing co-ops and residential parks and now in a retirement village, Wendy's housing journey has finally achieved housing security but with many rocky bumps along the way. Wendy now reaches out to those in power to demand that action be taken to ensure all older people have the right to age-in-place.

Len James is 76 years old and lives in social housing in Perth, Western Australia. One day Len handed in his private rental keys after realising he couldn't pay the rent any longer. He then slept rough for two years and faced turmoil, violence and fear of living on the streets. He also found camaraderie and companionship that provided him a level of protection. After engaging with some wonderful community services Len eventually was offered social housing and his life was turned around. His newly stable life has allowed him to give back by working with homeless people on a highly successful arts project that continues to this day.

This is the first of two episodes for Homelessness Week 2026 in Australia highlighting older people at risk of homelessness. Meet Lillian who has lived in her private rental home for 18 years, yet feels like she is just one rent increase or eviction notice away from becoming homeless.

This bonus episode is Barney Gardner talking about growing up in a working class public housing community at Millers Point in Sydney. Barney describes with candour and humour a somewhat idyllic life right on Sydney Harbour. Barney's depiction of life at Millers Point starkly contrasts Millers Point today after the forced relocation of all the tenants there. It is now one of the wealthiest places in Australia and an AirBnB tourist destination.

This is the second episode about the forced relocation of public tenants at Millers Point. In this episode we hear from Barnie Gardner who has lived at Millers Point all his 77 years. Also with Barnie is Marie Sillars who also experienced the forced relocation of tenants at the Ivanhoe Estate in Macquarie Park, Sydney.

The destruction of a public housing community at Millers Point, Sydney, Part 1

This introduction to the podcast talks about the people that will be interviewed, the issues to be covered and also discuss some of the big issues facing older people at risk of homelessness.