Laughter prescribed to help tackle homelessness

Laughter is just what the doctor ordered for this year’s comedy night fundraiser in support of Age Matters, an IRT initiative specialising in helping vulnerable older people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and isolation in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

The comedy night, presented by Wollongong Comedy at the Builders Club on Friday 18 October will feature a talented line up of comedians including Peter Berner, Alex Jae and Liam McCann.

Age Matters Manager Natasha Debsieh says the widespread housing crisis in Australia, coupled with extreme cost-of-living pressures is impacting older peoples’ ability – especially those on fixed incomes – to access age-appropriate accommodation, services, medicines and food.

“We’re inviting everyone in the Wollongong area and surrounds to please come along with their friends to our comedy night and enjoy a good dose of laughter. It really is the best medicine.

“We rely on the support of our community to assist vulnerable older people doing it tough. So please come, have a laugh and leave with a smile on your face and full heart knowing you’ve contributed to a very important cause,” Natasha said.

Managing the rising cost of housing continues to be a challenge for people of all ages but is particularly tough for older Australians. In Wollongong, the average weekly rent is 82 per cent of the weekly Age Pension payment, and the demand for housing and homelessness services from older people is rising. In 2022-2023, over 27,000 older people sought support from specialist homelessness services like Age Matters.

In the same period Age Matters assisted 354 older people in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven to access appropriate services and accommodation.

Pete*, 77 years old, was referred to Age Matters by a homelessness service. He was facing imminent homelessness when he received a no-fault eviction from his home of 26 years that he rented with his wife Kate* who had recently passed away. With nothing affordable in his local area and no surviving family or social connections to help him, Pete was forced to search for accommodation further afield.

Pete worked in hard labour jobs his entire life, filling roles on the railways, brickyards and later taking up a career in car yards. Pete is passionate about movies, and has a collection of over 1500 carefully curated films. He has watched every one of them, many several times, and is usually able to provide a detailed synopsis on demand. Pete has a particular soft spot for Western films and is a big fan of Butch Cassidy, Burt Lancaster and John Wayne. Pete has a sharp sense of humour, and enjoys sharing this with those he trusts.

Finding a new place to live proved exceptionally difficult for Pete who lives on the Aged Pension, and has mobility and hearing difficulties.

“We’ve been working with Pete since early 2023 to help him find secure housing and connect him to essential services so he can live independently in the community,” Natasha said.

“We have supported Pete to not only apply for and secure accommodation, but have also helped him move, connect to health services and navigate government processes so that he can access the subsidies and payments he is entitled to, including aged care services, transport and pharmacy.

“After finally securing a private rental with our help, sadly six months later Pete was served an end of fixed term notice of termination. He has had to move three times within a 14 month period.”

In July, after waiting almost two years, Pete received a suitable offer of social housing and moved into his forever home with the support of Age Matters.

“This is the outcome that we strive for everyday and we can’t do it without the generous support of our community. Please come along to our comedy night and help support more people like Pete.”

Age Matters Comedy Night

When: 8pm 18 October

Where: The Basement, The Builders Club Wollongong

Tickets: Visit https://www.irt.org.au/about/age-matters/comedy-night/ or call 134 478 for tickets and sponsorship opportunities.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved.