Sally and Shimon spend half their pension on housing. But their only other option is Melbourne’s streets

Australia’s retirement system has not been designed for older renters, aged housing advocate Fiona York says. Photograph: David Crosling/AAP

At 67 and 71, Sally Marano and her husband, Shimon, would not be considered among the nation’s typical renters.

The Melbourne couple receive about $1,724 a fortnight on the pension and, as of this week, more than half of it goes straight back out of their account: their rent has risen to $890 a fortnight.