Calling on Minister Hazzard to open the door to Millers Point Residents

Posted on April 24, 2015 | Leave a comment   

      

This Council cycle my Notice of Motion will call on new Minister for Social Housing, Brad Hazzard, to meet with Millers Point residents and place their health ahead of the Government’s asset sales.

 Recent comments by the new Minister indicate that he is willing to consider the human impact of this sale. I remain hopeful that the Minister will recognise the strong case presented by the residents and find a way to compromise on the remaining homes.

Around half of the residents have been moved out in the last year. The psychological strain placed on these vulnerable residents, both those who have already moved and those who are fighting to remain in place, has been immeasurable. It is vital that we seize the opportunity to establish a working relationship with the new Minister.

Aside from this my notice of motion also calls on the Minister to make public the Government’s detailed plan for how the money from the property sale will be spent. To date $27 million has been raised.

Last week it was announced that some of the money has been used to finance new public housing units in Lurnea. Moving inner city public housing tenants to the fringes of the metropolitan area isn’t the answer.

While I support the creation of new public housing stock the Government needs to create more right across Sydney, especially in inner-city areas where there is better public transport, health services and employment access. The Macquarie Fields riots of 2005 sent a strong message that moving large public housing estates on the suburban fringes is poor social policy. Ten years on the Government needs to understand that location and design play a strong element in the social outcomes of public housing estates.

Sydney is a city of strong socio-economic divides. If we are going to meet the challenges of the future it is critical that place diversity at the front and centre of all our communities.

You can read my notice of motion here.

RESOURCED: https://clrdoutney.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/calling-on-minister-hazzard-to-open-the-door-to-millers-point-residents/ 

Grant to Redfern Legal Centre for Millers Point Residents

Posted on April 24, 2015 | Leave a comment      

      

When former Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward announced the sale of public housing properties in Millers Point in March last year, she began the process of destroying the Millers

Point Public Housing Community. In the past 12 months half of the public housing residents have been moved to other properties. For many of these residents it has meant leaving their friends and community behind and often finding themselves socially isolated.

Last April the City gave the Redfern Legal Centre, who are specialists in public housing related issues, a grant of $100 000 to provide advocacy and advice to the affected tenants. During this time 130 tenants have received support from the Centre. They are now seeking an additional $50 000 funding for another six months.

Of the remaining residents a large number are elderly and have disabilities and complex needs. There will be considerable pressure on these vulnerable residents to leave within the next year to fit in with the Government’s sale deadline. This support is critical when you consider the issues some tenants face including finding appropriate properties to meet their mobility needs in terms of physical access and transport, psychological impacts and social isolation, as well as domestic support needs. Some of these residents may also be finding that they no longer meet the Department of Family and Community Services’ criteria for public housing.

I will continue to support these residents in their fight to stay in their homes. It is critically important that these residents receive this independent support. I want to thank the staff at Redfern Legal Centre for their ongoing work and dedication to these residents. Given the scope and complexity of this work I believe this grant is not only appropriate but also excellent value for money in terms of the services it provides

For those of you wishing to support the residents you can sign the following petitions:
Save Myra from eviction
Save Flo from eviction
Save Mrs Vo from eviction
Save the Millers Point Workers Flats

RESOURCED: https://clrdoutney.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/grant-to-redfern-legal-centre-for-millers-point-residents/