Residents at 82 Wentworth Park face eviction from NSWLAHC

By TILEAH DOBSON

Public housing tenants in a complex in Glebe are facing eviction after receiving a letter from NSW Land and Housing Corporation (NSWLAHC). The letter states that NSWLAHC is intending to redevelop the property and tenants will need to relocate somewhere else.

NSWLAHC letter goes on to say tenants will have to undergo a Housing Assessment Interview, in order to gain as much information as possible so that they can “find a suitable property that meets your current housing needs.”

The complex in question is 82 Wentworth Park, Glebe, a place where some have lived there for decades. With several elderly and at least one family living there.

Such an action was taken whilst NSW is experiencing a rental and public housing crisis has housing, gentrification and urban development researcher, Dr Alistair Sisson disgusted.

“There’s no defence for how these processes are handled,” Sisson told City Hub.

“At 82 Wentworth Park, there are 17 units in total and 4 to 5 were left vacant and neglected by NSW Land and Housing Corporation in the past year. It’s a pattern of behaviour to neglect proper maintenance. They’re displacing people from their home and community.”

“In NSW alone, there are over 50,000 households on the waiting list. 1,000 in the Inner City. If you’re not on the priority list which covers domestic violence victims, disabled etc., then you’re waiting 5 to 10 years.”

Shelter NSW CEO John Engeler has pointed out that the supply of these much-needed housing from the government has diminished.

“In NSW the market increasingly fails particular renters. There is increasing demand for social (public), Affordable (key worker) and specialist housing (such as youth, disability, older persons housing),” he told City Hub.

“NSW Treasury insists LAHC should be self-funding, hence otherwise good relatively newer sites like 82 Wentworth Park Road are being considered for redevelopment, as government fails to invest in substantially new stock.”

Resident of 82 Wentworth Park, Carolyn is just one of many who received the letter and is under the threat of eviction.

“I feel dreadful. this has been my home for 30 years,” she told City Hub.

“I am an activist and have known of and experienced their [NSWLAHC] abuse and neglect. I have taken them to the tribunal twice. I know of many other people experiencing issues too. I think they should stop the sell-off of public housing and extend it. Not promote this lie of social housing.”

This is not the first time that public housing has come under threat, with community outcry and pushback from other locations such as Redfern, Waterloo and Millers Point.

City Hub reached out to NSWLAHC for comment but they did not respond in time.

Rental Crisis Blocked in Parliament

With soaring rent costs, extreme weather and other costs of living bills rising, Greens MP Jenny Leong had called on politicians to address the crisis and vote on a bill that would offer relief and support for renters.

Unfortunately, her motion for renter protections had been blocked with Liberal and Nationals turning it down and Labor did not turn up for the vote, Leong tweeted.

“It is very clear and very simple that members in this place do not have to agree to all elements of the Greens bill to be able tore-order business,” Leong spoke in Parliament on Wednesday.

“But in making a decision to not support this re-order today, it is sending a clear message to 30 per cent of the people in New South Wales who rent their home currently, that you do not believe that the crisis that they are facing is urgent.”