The Public Housing Scandal and its Tenants

[Bill M]

Tonight I saw a segment on A Current Affair about a lady who is very ill and has renal failure. She is living in her car and goes through dialysis 4 times a day in the drivers seat. She is also on the transplant list for a new kidney. She can not get Public Housing.

I just can't believe that in a Country as rich as Australia that this lady has to live like this. In fact I have spent a lot of time in 3rd world countries where I have seen first hand better responses for someone in a similar condition.

What is going on here? What can we do to better our system? Why has this lady been left on the scrap heap? Surely our Government can help out a bit better than to let her treat herself in her car.

What needs to be done to help the people that need it the most?

Seems to fall on deaf ears, nobody seems to care.

Watch the video, link to story below.

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article/8438423/sick-and-on-the-street

 

[Glen48]

Hope all of sudden some one higher up will act and try to save face and put her in the best we have to offer ..until the next one comes along.

 

[Julia]

This is completely disgraceful, especially in light of something I heard on ABC Radio a few weeks ago where there are thousands of people still occupying public housing who have incomes (as a couple) in excess of $100K p.a.

I had to go out so didn't hear how this is possible and why they cannot simply be tossed out to make room for genuinely needy people.

In the interests of objectivity and fairness, however, and with a vague recollection of the few times I've seen ACA, they are pretty expert at presenting one side of the story.
Did they give any further background, Bill?
e.g. there are people who have been evicted from public housing because they have trashed the place or been some ongoing nuisance to other tenants. It doesn't sound likely in this regard, but there is inevitably some background to stories like this.

PS I've just had a look at some of the video. This woman voluntarily left her public housing, so has ruined her chances of going back there. That's just one of the rules and would have been made clear to her in the beginning.
Still, an awful situation for her, but apparently one she has largely brought on herself.

 

[Bill M]

In the interests of objectivity and fairness, however, and with a vague recollection of the few times I've seen ACA, they are pretty expert at presenting one side of the story.
Did they give any further background, Bill?

No, not really, they just presented her case. What really annoys me is they would rather put up desperate people in Motels or similar rather than spend maybe $2k or $5k fixing up a place to make it habitable. It doesn't make sense, round figures of $100 p/n for a motel and it's $2k in 20 days.

I got a gut feeling there is a lot of mismanaging going on and even though it's been brought up a few times nothing seems to change. I reckon they should just put it to Barry O'Farrell (pretty sure the case was in NSW) on TV and ask him why is this going on and if he thinks it is acceptable.

Still, an awful situation for her, but apparently one she has largely brought on herself.

Yes I just reviewed the video the again, she did leave the system to rent privately and now can't get back in. Still, as you say, not a nice situation to be in.

 

[Smurf1976]

I'm quite happy for my taxes to be used to help those who genuinely need it. But for those who set Housing Commission properties on fire or who rip up the carpets and burn the skirting boards for firewood etc I see no reason why they should be allowed to remain in public housing. If that leaves them homeless then so be it.

This ought to free up plenty of houses for those who genuinely need them.

 

[Bill M]

I'm quite happy for my taxes to be used to help those who genuinely need it. But for those who set Housing Commission properties on fire or who rip up the carpets and burn the skirting boards for firewood etc I see no reason why they should be allowed to remain in public housing. If that leaves them homeless then so be it.

This ought to free up plenty of houses for those who genuinely need them.

Yes, that's the other side of the coin and I agree. We have seen that so many times, it makes me sick. They take up good houses destroy them and then those really in need like this lady can't get somewhere to live.

What is the answer?

 

[Glen48]

Its the same as the legal system punish the victim in this case the taxpayer.do the place up put in new every thing and re-let it.
Saw were a bus driver was kicked in the head as he drove a bus by some passenger because the passenger was not happy about his ticket, the man was taken to court and fined $480 and 12 mth good behavior. to bad the driver was trying to do his job and was cool enough to concentrate on driving the bus, be a different story if the driver was knocked unconscious the passenger would be fined at least $550 and 2 slaps on the wrist.

 

[Bill M]

Saw were a bus driver was kicked in the head as he drove a bus by some passenger because the passenger was not happy about his ticket, the man was taken to court and fined $480 and 12 mth good behavior. to bad the driver was trying to do his job and was cool enough to concentrate on driving the bus, be a different story if the driver was knocked unconscious the passenger would be fined at least $550 and 2 slaps on the wrist.

If that happened in the USA that guy would be doing 2 to 5 years hard time. Australia is pathetic at giving adequate sentences for serious crimes.

 

[Smurf1976]

If that happened in the USA that guy would be doing 2 to 5 years hard time. Australia is pathetic at giving adequate sentences for serious crimes.

One case where we actually should copy the USA. There's just no excuse for these sorts of crimes, no excuse whatsoever.

 

[Tink]

Wealthy public tenants face boot
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/wealthy-public-tenants-face-boot-20120824-24sgg.html

I saw this article today and if its true, how can these people stay in these homes?

 

[sptrawler]

I'm quite happy for my taxes to be used to help those who genuinely need it. But for those who set Housing Commission properties on fire or who rip up the carpets and burn the skirting boards for firewood etc I see no reason why they should be allowed to remain in public housing. If that leaves them homeless then so be it.

Actually what happens to those tenants is, they are thrown out. Then given bond assistance by the government to get a private rental.
Several months later you see the landlord on A Current Affair, because he has tried to evict the same people.LOL

 

[qldfrog]

Just found this thread is as good as any:.when land and wokeness meet reality:

Woman, 68, living in new social housing forced to take showers and hide in car to cool down during heatwave

Sixty-eight-year-old Suellyn Lott's Sunshine Coast apartment complex was officially opened less than 12 months ago, but she says living there is unbearable when the temperature spikes.

www.abc.net.au

Green passive heating cooling is all great but sometimes yes you need a heating ..fireplace for the frog..or cooling AC even in a top of the range architect designed double glazing environmentally built place..so imagine for public housing with no choice of orientation stuck between other places in high density (green aim) lots.
Why should I care? My taxes...paid for a higher cost lodging for fellow Australian I am supporting to live in shitty place..ahh the teal politics
AC installed last week bringing real comfort to the frog

 

[Macquack]

Just found this thread is as good as any:.when land and wokeness meet reality:

Woman, 68, living in new social housing forced to take showers and hide in car to cool down during heatwave

Sixty-eight-year-old Suellyn Lott's Sunshine Coast apartment complex was officially opened less than 12 months ago, but she says living there is unbearable when the temperature spikes.

www.abc.net.au

Green passive heating cooling is all great but sometimes yes you need a heating ..fireplace for the frog..or cooling AC even in a top of the range architect designed double glazing environmentally built place..so imagine for public housing with no choice of orientation stuck between other places in high density (green aim) lots.
Why should I care? My taxes...paid for a higher cost lodging for fellow Australian I am supporting to live in shitty place..ahh the teal politics
AC installed last week bringing real comfort to the frog

Public housing does not have to be 5 star.

That is the key problem with lack of affordable housing, the minimum standard of housing is too high.

The phrase "Beggars can't be Choosers" comes to mind.