Seniors housing horrors

AFFORABLE housing for older people in the Mackay region has been put under the spotlight by the National Seniors Australia organisation.

AFFORABLE housing for older people in the Mackay region has been put under the spotlight by the National Seniors Australia organisation.

Mackay local and National Seniors Australia member, Lynn Howland, is taking up the issue of affordable housing ahead of the state election on March 21.

Data from the Residential Development Council shows that six of the country's top 10 most unaffordable locations for rental houses and units are found in Queensland, including Cairns, Gold Coast, Gladstone, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Rockhampton and Mackay.

Ms Howland said many pensioners and retirees were experiencing serious housing stress and felt it was almost impossible to keep up with rising rents in the private market.

“Imagine being on a low fixed income like a pensioner would be and having to be subjected to such increases,” she said.

“The issue of appropriate and affordable housing has been a major concern from locals and other seniors across the state.”

Originally published as Seniors housing horrors