Articles & News

July 18, 2008

Australia - complaints force unit tenants out

Tim Williams

PEOPLE with serious mental health or substance abuse problems will no longer be placed in a block of community housing units at Hyde Park, after nearby residents made hundreds of complaints to Unley MP David Pisoni.

At a public meeting at Mr Pisoni's electorate office last Monday (July 7), Aboriginal Prisoners and Offenders Support Service executive director Frank Lampard admitted his organisation had "got the mix of tenants wrong" in the Fashoda St block.

Mr Lampard said the four units leased by APOSS, which helped released Aboriginal offenders reintegrate into the community, would be used as "a reward" for clients who proved they were capable of looking after themselves.

"We might have to start clients elsewhere until they can show they are ready for more independent living in a place like Fashoda."

Of the other four units, three are directly leased to Housing SA tenants, and one is leased to Unity Housing Company, which provides housing and support services for people who were previously homeless. Fashoda St residents have made more than 300 complaints in the past year. These include:

* being confronted and verbally abused in the street, and pestered for money, cigarettes and alcohol;

* having persistent trespassers on their properties;

* incontinence nappies and other rubbish being dumped in their yards; and

* screaming and fighting between residents.

One APOSS tenant, who was a joint client with Anglicare and Disabilities SA, was recently removed and one of the Housing SA tenants will shortly be moved to a higher care facility.

Housing Minister Jay Weatherill told the meeting the removal of the two most "extreme" cases should alleviate the situation, but creating the right mix of tenants would not be easy.

"We acknowledge neighbours should be able to live peacefully, without fear and free of disturbance," he said.

"But with the best will in the world we might not get it (the mix) right. It's about how quickly we respond and having the right support in place."

Several residents, who did not want to be named, said they were often afraid in their own homes because the tenants were not receiving adequate support and were left free to roam the street.

One said her house was "a jail for my children", who were traumatised by the screams of tenants threatening to kill each other.

Mr Weatherill said Housing SA would consider allowing APOSS to gradually take over all eight units, which Mr Lampard said would provide the "critical mass" needed to justify around the clock supervision.