Public Housing Tenants Facing Eviction say Process Too Hasty

Trade unionists and community activists have pledged to fight alongside the public housing tenants of Millers Point who are now facing eviction by the NSW Government, during a demonstration on March 25, 2014.

Protesters chanted "Millers Point here to stay". This march, which went from the Kent St fire station to Millers Point, was organised by the Maritime Union of Australia with support from the Fire Brigade Employees Union. Local residents and tenants groups have united to resist the eviction plan.

Another protest is scheduled on Thursday March 27, with plans to meet at the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park North for a march on NSW Parliament House.

Barry and Pru you have somehow have become heartless since you have come into government: COWARDS, come talk to the people.

Florence Seckald received an eviction letter days after her husband was buried. Photo: Brendan Esposito
 

Millers Point public housing tenant Florence Seckold buried her husband last Tuesday. ''Wednesday we got the eviction notice,'' the 80-year-old said.

Mrs Seckold, who was born, spent her youth, her 60-year marriage and - she had hoped - her final years in the harbourside suburb, was among roughly 150 people protesting the sale of almost 300 public housing properties on Tuesday.

At the same time, representatives from the Department of Family and Community Services were elsewhere arranging relocation interviews with some of the 400 tenants who would need to be rehoused in the next two years.

Millers Point Public Housing Protest

 

The move was criticised by some protesters as adding undue haste to a process that only served to compound their distress since last week's announcement
 
''Have a bit of decency, give us all time to take it in,'' said Barney Gardner, who accused relocation officers of approaching tenants with poor English skills, without giving them access to interpreters.
''Come and ring us or send a letter and say we'd like to make an appointment to see you, and the tenant can respond.''

Zulema Carro, a long-term resident of the Sirius Building, said she was accosted when leaving the house for a doctor's appointment. ''She said 'it takes five minutes'. I said 'no, you're taking away my life. It takes more than five minutes.'''

A Family and Community Services spokesman said tenants were being contacted either in person or by phone to arrange a suitable time for a meeting, and would be linked to interpreter services if required.

Some had contacted the department to ask to be relocated sooner, he said. ''We have offered every tenant the opportunity to meet with family, friends and support workers if tenants feel they need additional support.''

Mrs Seckold said she was told, given her recent circumstances, the department would hold off contacting her until next month.

''As if I'm going to be any better at the end of April, or even the end of December,'' she said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/public-housing-tenants-facing-eviction-say-process-too-hasty-20140325-35g9e.html#ixzz2x3xVGeqP