Highlights
- Research finds that about 400,000 women aged 45 or older in Australia are at risk of homelessness
- Older women are more likely to be at risk of homelessness if they are an immigrant from a non-English-speaking country and live in a lone-person household
- While it’s common for elderly Chinese people to take care of themselves in their home country, in their new environment, their independence is constrained and some show reluctance to depend on their family
For adult children of late-life Chinese migrants, seeing a parent at the front of a soup kitchen queue could come as a shock.
Attending such services could imply that the children are not doing what is expected of them in Chinese culture.
“My daughter believes that these types of services are for the homeless. But I have a home,” says Ms Li* who keeps her regular visits to Parramatta Mission’s Meals Plus service in Sydney’s west a secret from her children.
The migrant in her 70s lives alone and says the charity soup kitchen allows her to stay on top of daily expenses after private rental payments leave her “a bit tight” on cash.
Meals Plus is part of the Parramatta Mission Uniting Church offering in the heart of Sydney’s west. Source: Parramatta Mission
“I have no savings … the Meals Plus service helps me out a lot,” she says.
Meals Plus coordinator Paul Moussa says there is a "100 per cent" chance these women could be homeless without the help of their service.
The potential to lead to loss of accommodation, to homelessness is real.
Mr Moussa says clients not only able to receive free meals, but groceries, toiletries, blankets and clothes as well.
"You may be looking (at savings of) $40 to a small user up to $100-200 per week ... If finances keep shrinking, something has go to give and it could be accommodation.
"The Chinese are even more vulnerable due to the language barrier. There is a real chance homelessness could occur."
published last year shows that older women such as Ms Li are at greater risk of becoming homeless if they are a migrant from a non-English-speaking country, in private rental housing and living in a lone-person household.
But older Chinese migrants who spoke to SBS Chinese say it’s unlikely they would hit crisis point due to their careful planning and sensible lifestyles.
“We’re thrifty … If I have $100, I don’t spend $120. I would only use $80,” says Ms Li.
Older Chinese immigrants in Australia show reluctance to rely on families. Source: EPA
'Chinese people are good at calculating'
While it’s common for older Chinese people to take care of themselves in their home country, in Australia, community members such as Ms Wang* are reluctant to depend on family.
“I like living by myself. I don’t want to live in my daughter’s house. Too many people live there,” she says.
As a fellow Meals Plus client Ms Wang is aware that the cost of her rent, food and bills are increasing each year.
Despite the rising cost of living, she says she has enough for her daily needs.
If you’re thrifty, there’s enough to live off. I don’t smoke or drink so there’s enough.
Ms Wang says life was hard when she first arrived in Australia more than 20 years ago, as a retiree and with limited English skills.
She says soup kitchens have lifted some of her financial burden and helped her cope with the challenges of daily life.
"I meet other Chinese people there, which is great, and we get free breakfasts every morning,” she says.
Meals Plus has remained open throughout the pandemic, serving 60 breakfasts and 150 lunches five days a week. Source: Parramatta Mission
“Those they need it, come. Those that don’t, don’t.”
When there are no children to depend on
Many older Chinese migrants move to Australia by conferral to be with their adult children, but for others, it may not be the case.
Ms Huang* is childless and made the transition to be closer to her siblings.
Her living sources include the Australian government pension and retirement funds from China.
“There’s enough to eat here. I don’t worry about having not enough food,” she says.
When Ms Huang suffered a shoulder injury recently, she spent a year living with pain. Unable to lift her arm, she had difficulty getting dressed.
Many older Chinese immigrants regularly attend Parramatta Mission's free meals service. Source: Parramatta Mission
Linguistic and cultural barriers meant she struggled to understand and trust the Australian health system.
When she finally received medical treatment, it left her $450 out of pocket.
I’ve never borrowed money off anyone. Doing so would cause me to lose face.
As a retired white-collar worker who lived “well-off” in China, she says in Australia she “doesn’t have high living standards” and is reluctant to depend on family members in her new country.
“No one will look after me when I’m older. Not even my nieces or nephews. They won't even look after their own parents. Why would they take care of their aunty?
“You shouldn't rely on others. Rely on yourself. Make sure you remain healthy.”
‘Acceptance is not always forthcoming’
When older Chinese people line up for free meal services, Mr Moussa says they are sometimes marginalised, victimised and abused.
He says some charity services have barred them over a belief that these individuals often "take more than they think they should", a move he disagrees with.
“The welcome is not always there,” he says.
“I’ve tried to explain to the organisations that there’s a culture behind that. If they don’t take enough now, there might not be anything tomorrow.”
The organisation recently hired two volunteers who double up as interpreters.
Meals Plus coordinator Paul Moussa says everybody is welcome at Parramatta Mission. Source: Parramatta Mission
The message to clients has been: “Please just take enough for today because you’re going to come back tomorrow anyway. And you are welcome to come back.”
Mr Moussa says he has clients who pick up cans “to make” the rent.
“Three hundred to four hundred dollars a week. That’s a lot of cans.
“Some are not on any income at all. They don’t have the status. [Some] of their children are supporting them and they take care of the rent.
“That’s why there’s a stigma. If they found out they are coming here it means the children are not doing their job.”
Mr Moussa says some of his clients also go through garbage bins for anything that is usable such as clothes and food.
“They’ll go to the back of a restaurant and take out food that’s been tossed to eat,” he says.
‘COVID has brought us closer to our Chinese, CALD clients’
Older Chinese clients frequently use translation apps on their phones to communicate with Mr Moussa and other non-Chinese speakers in the community.
Parramatta Mission has long been the first point of contact for anybody in need of other services such as housing and health support.
“We don't charge. We don't sell on. Anything we have, we give freely,” says Mr Moussa.
During the pandemic, when some clients are separated from their children, Meals Plus remains open, serving 60 breakfast and 150 lunch meals, five days a week.
He says not everyone initially feels comfortable in the Meals Plus environment for fear of “losing face”, which in Chinese culture could mean permanently losing social status and hurting one’s reputation.
Older Chinese immigrants in Australia can face greater risks of social isolation due to language barriers. Source: Getty
But as time has gone on, older Chinese groups have felt more welcome at these services and they are turning to them to help cover daily needs and expenses.
“COVID has brought us closer our Chinese, CALD clients. Because in the emergency, the need is real, and they are trying to communicate [their needs].”
Building trust with the Chinese community
Though many older Chinese migrants are particularly vulnerable and more socially isolated in Australia due to them speaking little or no English, awareness of the available social services helps them cope with problems.
“We’re happy in this environment … we’re not discriminated against at all here,” says Ms Li.
Over time and through word of mouth, older Chinese migrants have been able to navigate the Western healthcare system.
“Here in Australia, you can get health checks for free. I have a pensioners card, so medication is very cheap,” says Ms Li.
Having access to social services provide a higher level of certainty for some.
Meals Plus relies heavily on volunteers who sometimes double up as interpreters. Source: Parramatta Mission
“I’m grateful for the Australian government … and my sympathetic Chinese landlord who doesn’t raise rents up too much,” says Ms Li.
Mr Moussa says the domino effect when “things go wrong” is enormous. Parramatta Mission and other services have been able to provide immediate outcomes such as filling an empty stomach and linking with services that provide free dental, physiotherapy and podiatry.
This would be favourable to those, such as Ms Wang, who speaks of simple pleasures such as feeding birds rather than worrying about what lies ahead.
Some older groups show their resourcefulness in stretching their income and making it last longer, thus creating a wider safety net and improving the look of their future.
Ms Wang is leaving part of hers up to fate.
“I'm not sure what will happen to me tomorrow. I believe I'm a nice person. I'll be fine. Someone is watching over me.”
The theme for this year’s national event is “Everybody Needs a Home”.
Individuals or corporations wishing to support the charity can make contact through , call 02 9891 8877, or email .
*The three older Chinese women who spoke to SBS chose not to reveal their names.
