Millers Point Public Housing Evictees Forced to Endure ‘Cruel’ Lucky Dip Process to Find New Homes



Barney Gardner of the Millers Point, Dawes Point & The Rocks Public Housing Tenants Group.Source: News Limited

 Lucky dips are usually ­associated with children’s parties and fetes but, for the public housing evictees of Millers Point and surrounds, this is the newest system in place for their ­relocation.

   

Each Tuesday, residents are advised of vacant properties elsewhere in Sydney and then, should they chose to apply for that property, a ballot draw is held on Friday to select the ‘lucky’ tenant who will move.

“Family and Community Services has launched an ­initiative named My Property Choice, which provides Millers Point residents with additional relocation ­options,” a FACS spokesman said.



https://www.facebook.com/millerspointsaveourhomes

The housing lucky dips have taken place at the Sirius block.Source: News Corp Australia



 “Under the existing process, residents nominate a preferred area where they would like to relocate, and FACS works with them to find a suitable property in that location.

“With My Property Choice, tenants are given an opportunity to inspect properties outside their nominated area, but may be suitable for their needs.

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“If there are several tenants interested in the same property, a ballot is held.

“The first My Property Choice event was held last week and interest was ­received on all six of the properties shown.”

https://www.facebook.com/millerspointsaveourhomes

A sign of defiance on a Millers Point terrace.Source: Supplied

City of Sydney councillor Linda Scott said the new lotto system was an outrageous way of determining housing.

“Needless to say, this ­uncertainty on top of the pre-existing upheaval is being seen as cruel beyond belief,” Cr Scott said.

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One resident who experienced the ballot was Millers Point, Dawes Point and The Rocks Tenants Group convener Barney Gardner.

He said this lotto-style ­relocation was targeted at residents in the Sirius building, but about 30-40 tenants from the area attended the showing last Tuesday.

 

Residents are fighting for their homes.Source: Supplied

 

“When we went up there (to Sirius) they had a large screen connected to a computer set up in one of the common rooms,” he said.

“And then they’d show sort of a slide show of each property.”

Mr Gardner said for each property residents were ­presented with all the key stats such as number of rooms, aspect, a map of the area with local services and transport.

“I picked up a few faults in some of the properties,” Mr Gardner said.

“The housing officials were all really polite and nice … but what I think is most frightening is why have people moved out of these places.”

Reference For More Details and leave a comments:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/millers-point-public-housing-evictees-forced-to-endure-cruel-lucky-dip-process-to-find-new-homes/story-fngr8h22-1226924145621