act housing hear my voice

cleo said :

dvaey Most men are paid higher wages than women, so the money doesn’t go that far on a low wage.

What is that supposed to mean? Are you saying most men are paid higher wages than someone like Heather Ridout, or that most men are paid higher wages than most women, or that most men are paid higher wages than some women, or that the average wage is higher, which is different to the median wage difference?

There are single fathers out there with low wages living in the same struggle town as single mothers with low wages and it is offensive to dismiss them like that. Advocates do their cause little service when they dismiss the legitimate grievances of ALL groups and claim unassailable martyrdom for one particular group.

I hope the single mum takes note of the POSTIVE advice on here, good luck!

dvaey Most men are paid higher wages than women, so the money doesn’t go that far on a low wage.

dvaey said :

My father was a single father and raised both myself and my brother after my mother left the family. He worked 10hr days, and neither expected (nor received) any government assistance, even having to pay court costs to defend against having to pay child support which my mum tried to claim from him (even though she left our home).

If you can so loosely throw the word bigot around, why should I not throw the word sexist around, with your comments about ‘especially women’. Maybe the issue is more that single women are more aware of and assisted by government services than men, hence we dont hear so many stories of men seeking assistance, they just knuckle down and do it.

I also was raised by a single father with a job after my mother left our home. So what? If he’d needed to give up work to care for us he would have had to. He didn’t. If he’d needed government support it would have been there for him. And he certainly wouldn’t have copped the kind of crap that single mothers do. And I lived that every day, so I’m not sexist I’m a realist. Leave single mothers alone. It’s hard enough for them already, let alone one who is also a carer. Who do you think holds her when she cries at night?

Just answering a question, Cletus.

There arent enough jobs for everyone and there arent enough houses for everyone. A lot of people who end up without either have worked hard for most of their lives and become ill or had an accident or a large dose of bad luck…there but for the grace of God go I…

Granny said :

You are absolutely a bigot if you don’t realise that many people, especially women are forced to quit their jobs to become carers for their children, spouses, siblings and parents with disabilities – both genetic and acquired.

My father was a single father and raised both myself and my brother after my mother left the family. He worked 10hr days, and neither expected (nor received) any government assistance, even having to pay court costs to defend against having to pay child support which my mum tried to claim from him (even though she left our home).

If you can so loosely throw the word bigot around, why should I not throw the word sexist around, with your comments about ‘especially women’. Maybe the issue is more that single women are more aware of and assisted by government services than men, hence we dont hear so many stories of men seeking assistance, they just knuckle down and do it.

weeziepops said :

Six people,generally every second weekend over the past year, Granny.

Then you must be well qualified to adjudicate on who has and has not made the correct “life choices” in the past so as to qualify for your handouts.

I’m glad to hear it, weeziepops. That is unusual.

But seriously, carers often can’t work for a reason. Don’t be so quick to judge this poor girl. Behind most single mothers is a cowardly father – especially where disability is concerned. Yet it is the woman who is judged by society. I’m so over that.

Six people,generally every second weekend over the past year, Granny.

weeziepops said :

I WANT a welfare state which supports people who cannot support themselves. The elderly, people with a disability etc. Not people who make life choices and then complain about the support they are offered. If that makes me a bigot, fine.

You are absolutely a bigot if you don’t realise that many people, especially women are forced to quit their jobs to become carers for their children, spouses, siblings and parents with disabilities – both genetic and acquired. The help they get from anyone – from governments to friends – is sweet FA.

How many people with a disability have you offered to care for to give the carer a break and a little respite?

One friend who was doing it tough told me, “Why is it always other carers that offer?” Her relatives and friends don’t lift a finger.

Colourful Sydney
racing identity

No don’t believe in fairies, but angels, I had a little turd living below me who thought he could have his music as loud as the sterio would go, I spoke to him, and asked in a friendly manner if he could turn the music down, as it was interfering with my life, he’s so called mate said he can have it as loud as he wants, I said no, you can only have the music so many decimal bell, then his mate informed that he could break into my flat, so I just rang housing and told them of the threat, and also sent a letter, there would sometimes be around ten drugo’s in his flat, the noise continued the next day with the crowd on the balcony, so I poured a bucket of water over, fairs fair, they would also intimidate the elderly, I don’t scare that easily, and sent the housing manager a print out of their DISRUPTIVE BEHAVOUR POLICY, boy did they move then.

Pommy Bastard P.O.M.E.

Thank you, do I take a bow, it’s bloody hard work, and my children turned out fine, better than most who have both parents

Danman

Is that the best you can come up with???? Got your attention lol

“people knocking on my door at 3 and 4am asking if they can get some crack”

Bullshit. You watch too much American television

You’ve obviously never lived as a tenant of ACT Housing. This happens regularly in several of the ‘slums’ (for lack of a better word).

Druggies and dealers have more rights in housing than any other group or else they’d be kicked out and the people who have been waiting YEARS to rent might actually get there sooner rather than later.

“people knocking on my door at 3 and 4am asking if they can get some crack”

Bullshit. You watch too much American television

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

Reply

PB, you’re the one exercising limitless creativity in coming up with vanishingly unlikely scenarios in which the OP has access to all these great options but chooses to complain to public housing instead.

If you really believe that she has fabulously wealthy parents and a well-to-do celebrity ex-partner just a phone call away then you’re completely off the planet.

PB – ALL public housing tenants get three housing options. This mum is no different from any public housing tenant, except that she was offered three hotspot locations, which is most unsatisfactory.

Caf is a great examples of why society is going to the dogs. All that energy and thought being put into making up excuses of why a person may not be able to help themselves, and not a single thought about why they may be able to.

We’ve seen such creativity in inventing this girls circumstances, no matter what is asked of her, some one can create an excuse for her not to do anything (based on no knowledge or the actuality whatsoever.) What a shame these efforts aren’t put to more productive ends.

Cleo, you have my every respect for the efforts you made on behalf of your family.

At the risk of putting my head above the parapet, I think that PommyB made a good point in the following:

“Of course we couldn’t expect her to live where the junkies are. Hang about, what if these people are junkies. What if they are mentally ill or have learning difficulties? Or maybe they are victims of sexual or physical abuse who have turned to drugs to alleviate their pain. Shouldn’t we have more sympathy for them? What if they were born with an intellectual impairment, and were raped by a relative, then developed schizophrenia, and were cast out onto the streets, homeless and incapable of coping, then turned to crack and heroin after being beaten up by the police on a regular basis.”

And I think others have come to the same point perhaps less directly. That is, public (just like private) housing may well contain people in difficult circumstances, and having lived in Red Hill, I know that is the case there. However, it is just like any other area – there is a mixed bag of people and sometimes, you can end up with neighbours from hell no matter where you are. You can bash ACT Housing all you like, but they’re trying to do a difficult job, and it’s always easy to pick out a single circumstance, such as this post, and berate them on that basis.

Who is sitting at the housing desk and deciding who is a ‘nice’ tenant who can go to a ‘nice suburb’ and who is a ‘bad’ tenant and can go to Red Hill? And if a tenant is causing difficulty, what do you do with them? Put them out on the street? Then they can post to RiotAct and ask for our collective wisdom on their homelessness caused by the fact that they are mentally ill and given to manic behaviour that upset the neighbours?

It’s a complex problem for all concerned, and some of the posts on this have been a little less than considered.

And that’s all leaving aside the possibility of it all being a troll…

^^ Wow, 4 in a row? That’s got to be a new record… surely?

There is no way this isn’t a gee up.

No responses since the original, no logic as to why someone as un-educated as this person (judging on the grammar/spelling etc.) in their original post would think to even frequent this site (let alone post on here expecting an answer), and IF they were thinking this site could provide some use – you would assume they would have responded by now.

Bite harder.

And bullseye, Woody! So predictable.

Keep wriggling. I love sport fishing.

Reply

cleo said :

Single mum read up on your rights in housing, you are to feel safe in any public housing, if you don’t they really have to move you, don’t bother going to see them write a letter and send it registered post.

She is not real. She is made up like the tooth fairy, jesus and Alistair Coe.

Wow, the bar has been raised from 3 to 4 post nutbag.

Single mum read up on your rights in housing, you are to feel safe in any public housing, if you don’t they really have to move you, don’t bother going to see them write a letter and send it registered post.

PS Even if you are a single working mum it’s very hard to get private rental, people just don’t want to rent to you, you have to tell big fat lies, and always keep your rent payments up as I did.

Mum 21 it would be really difficult with two babies in a flat, with no back yard, I hope you are getting help, eg; someone there to give you a break, get a letter from your doctor, ignore the pigs on this site, I too was a single mum, I was married and had three children, I left and took them with me, the stigma that single mums have to put up with, and yes I worked a full time job, when the children were older I worked two jobs, believe me the penison was hardly enough money to live on, I don’t know what it is like today with children. At least I had the guts to get out of a very bad situation, I may have ended up dead, I was overseas at the time when I left, so had no family around me, my brothers would have knocked him senseless if they knew, it’s worth the peace of mind!

Pommy bastard For starters she hasn’t turned down three flats, she turned down two, she is living in the third, you and Jim Jones are so far up yourselves your toes are hanging out of your arse!

Well the troll questions have not been addressed have they? C’mon 21 mum of 2, can you provide us with more info?

Ok, so when I say;

Pommy bastard said :

Dear god. 21 mum of 2, is that a badge of honour? Ask the father(s) of the kids to buy you a nice apartment somewhere. Ask your parents to, ask the father(s) of the kids parents to. Get a job and rent somewhere nice.

Which part do you “not understand what that means”?

That’s easy enough to understand, and it’s also batshit loco. Chances of the father still being around: zero (that’s what “single” means). Chances of the father, even he was still around, being about to afford to buy “a nice apartment somewhere” for his ex: virtually zero. Chances the parents (if still around and contactable) having a few hundred grand up their sleeve: virtually zero. Ability to get a fulltime job with young children and no partner to look after them? zero (as I have already pointed out much earlier in this thread).

Your snide “father(s)” insinuation is also gratuitously insulting.

It’s not coz you is english – it’s the second part of your nick.

Wow there really are some bastards out there. People put yourself in this mother’s shoes. Would you like to be in that situation. I know it may be hard at times but just sheleter yourself and your childeren as much as possible from the environment around the house. I actually lived in the Braddon flats for a while when I was about two and I turned out alright! 🙂 Just do your best, persist with housing and hopefully one of the snobby housing consultants will get off their ass and do something. 🙂 Good luck.

And bullseye, Woody! So predictable.

georgesgenitals said :

Gobbo said :

Tooks said :

You think the police in this city have the resources to hang out at every block of Govt housing flats just in case something happens?

And is it the role of a landlord to control criminal actions?

Exactly. And yet the minute the landlord does something about it, the cops are up his butt.

If it isn’t up to the police to control this behaviour, who should? And yes, this question is direcetd at you, tooks.

You might want to read what I actually wrote, before directing stupid questions at me. I was responding to the suggestion that police should do the job of security guards ie. patrol one area to deter criminal behaviour. Not once did I say police shouldn’t control criminal behaviour.

I just didn’t care enough to respond

Ah, but I know you read every word.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

Tooks said :

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

sepi said :

Back to the issue of available housing – I think if ACT Housing would spend less money on new kitchens for those who burn them down, and more money on security guards, things might run a bit better.

Isn’t this the job of the police?

You think the police in this city have the resources to hang out at every block of Govt housing flats just in case something happens?

I thought we had established that (certain) public housing blocks were well known druggie hotspots. In which case, yeah, I expect the police to do something about it.

You think certain people in certain housing blocks aren’t targeted? You think police don’t respond if concerned residents call them? They do. You think these places aren’t patrolled? They are.

weeziepops said :

I WANT a welfare state which supports people who cannot support themselves. The elderly, people with a disability etc. Not people who make life choices and then complain about the support they are offered. If that makes me a bigot, fine.

But what if the disability is caused by a life choice eg diving off the jetty when bevvied, speeding and having an accident etc. Do the judgement police vet applications for worthiness. And isn’t being elderly a life choice? Instead of just housing, maybe there could be some support to help her out of the situation and maybe become a valued member of society like you are.

I grew up in a very bogan area, went to a shocking school, but thankfully, had a very supportive family and was able to get out and get qualifications and a well paying job. Not everyone is that lucky, including people with whom I went to school.

Gobbo said :

Tooks said :

You think the police in this city have the resources to hang out at every block of Govt housing flats just in case something happens?

And is it the role of a landlord to control criminal actions?

Exactly. And yet the minute the landlord does something about it, the cops are up his butt.

If it isn’t up to the police to control this behaviour, who should? And yes, this question is direcetd at you, tooks.

However, what other choice do we have?

Not judging people by your first impressions?

Yes, in case you were wondering, I am some sort of super genius.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

ugh I get it now.

Two posts from first time posters.

Both are down on their luck.

One is a young single mother with two kids, the other is a single non drinking, non smoking, non drug using university educated person with no kids.

They both ask for help from the RA community.

One gets very helpful suggestion on where to get a job, assistance etc, whilst the other gets some help served with a massive dollop of judgement and abuse.

We have been sucked in big time.

+1

I thought TROLL at first, but then you all got so passionate I thought maybe I was wrong. But then, isn’t that exactly what trolling is about??

#84- Pommy, I think you’ll find Woody has savaged me. I just didn’t care enough to respond so haven’t copped as much as you. I’m happy to stand by my comments about the original posting without entering into personal attacks on other posters.

Tooks said :

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

sepi said :

Back to the issue of available housing – I think if ACT Housing would spend less money on new kitchens for those who burn them down, and more money on security guards, things might run a bit better.

Isn’t this the job of the police?

You think the police in this city have the resources to hang out at every block of Govt housing flats just in case something happens?

I thought we had established that (certain) public housing blocks were well known druggie hotspots. In which case, yeah, I expect the police to do something about it.

First impressions count.

One post was badly written with no punctuation or no grammar consideration, the other wasn’t.

And yet some people argue that you shouldn’t judge a person by your first impressions.

However, what other choice do we have?

ugh I get it now.

Two posts from first time posters.

Both are down on their luck.

One is a young single mother with two kids, the other is a single non drinking, non smoking, non drug using university educated person with no kids.

They both ask for help from the RA community.

One gets very helpful suggestion on where to get a job, assistance etc, whilst the other gets some help served with a massive dollop of judgement and abuse.

We have been sucked in big time.

So unable to actually refute anything I have actually said, Jim resorts to meaningless slurs about things which I haven’t posted.

Tooks said :

You think the police in this city have the resources to hang out at every block of Govt housing flats just in case something happens?

And is it the role of a landlord to control criminal actions?

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

sepi said :

Back to the issue of available housing – I think if ACT Housing would spend less money on new kitchens for those who burn them down, and more money on security guards, things might run a bit better.

Isn’t this the job of the police?

You think the police in this city have the resources to hang out at every block of Govt housing flats just in case something happens?

I won’t bother jumping on the “let’s string up Pommy Bastard” bandwagon. I’ll leave that option for the rest of you.

However, why is it Housing ACT’s responsiblity to do anything, other than house people who can’t afford to enter the private rental market?

Why would the junkies on the doorstep be the responsibility of the landlord and not the Police?

Has the OP asked ACT Housing for a transfer?

If they have asked for a transfer, what was the given waiting period for a possible property being offered?

Why is it ACT Housing’s problem that the OP has two children and she is 21 years old?

Why is it ACT Housing’s problem that the first child has learning difficulties?

Cheers

Now that’s something I agree with you on weezie.

Interesting to see the other post go up re: homelessness soon after this one. Made me wonder if there was some social experiment happening around responses!

Could call re: the troll…

The more I think of it the more I am sure crack is an Americanism…

I feel foolish for responding.

Seriously people. Didn’t alarm bells ring for you when the situation painted by the troller, negated the luxury of being able to access the internet of the troller.

Jim Jones said :

Bravo PB, that’s one of your best efforts yet. While I don’t want to prejudice the voting just yet, I’d say it’s definitely up there with classic hits such as “I call them *** because that’s what they are” and “lets hang all the criminals”.

Jim, I do hope you’re not claiming that I posted those statements?

caf said :

It’s left up to other to read between the lines PB, because all you do complain about the original post and then spout meaningless platitudes like “personal responsibility” without actually letting anyone know what that means inside your deluded worldview.

Ok, so when I say;

Pommy bastard said :

Dear god. 21 mum of 2, is that a badge of honour? Ask the father(s) of the kids to buy you a nice apartment somewhere. Ask your parents to, ask the father(s) of the kids parents to. Get a job and rent somewhere nice.

Which part do you “not understand what that means”?

Just to clarify for you; I was saying that if this young lady has turned down three offers of public housing as they were not suitable, then she should look to finding an alternative way of housing herself, and that may entail herself, and others who are responsible for these kids such as the father(s), paying their way.

It’s also interesting that others have condemned and sneered at this person, whereas I have not, yet no one has chastised the posters of such strong statements as;

weeziepops said :

Get a job and pay for your housing yourself. We all make choices and have to live with them – and the luxury of choice costs.

To paraphrase the ignoble Ali G; “Is it cos I is English?”

People, it is a troll. First time poster, no punctuation, throwing in a few juicy bits of bait – special needs kid to tray and catch Granny, young single mother, junkies, no follow up to original post. Time to give up.

It’s left up to other to read between the lines PB, because all you do complain about the original post and then spout meaningless platitudes like “personal responsibility” without actually letting anyone know what that means inside your deluded worldview.

sepi said :

Back to the issue of available housing – I think if ACT Housing would spend less money on new kitchens for those who burn them down, and more money on security guards, things might run a bit better.

Isn’t this the job of the police?

Bravo PB, that’s one of your best efforts yet. While I don’t want to prejudice the voting just yet, I’d say it’s definitely up there with classic hits such as “I call them *** because that’s what they are” and “lets hang all the criminals”.

I begrudge no one anything Sepi. Where have I said she shouldn’t have public housing?

(Dear god, I wish I could read all the invisible stuff I write here, which everyone else seems to be able to.)

PB – you admit growing up in public housing, but begrudge it to others? Enough said.

Back to the issue of available housing – I think if ACT Housing would spend less money on new kitchens for those who burn them down, and more money on security guards, things might run a bit better.

this is not a money issue – the OP is not looking for a luxurious 4 bedroom home, she is looking for a place where she feels safe in her own bed at night. And fair enough too!

So, suggesting that someone, or their family may need to take some personal responsibility, is out of the question. Ok. No problems, I see now where I have been wrong.

Luckily I have people here such as “caf” to creatively interpret this simple suggestion , and pervert it into; “OK kiddo, you fucked up in the past, so you deserve everything you get now – just go away, shut up and take it”. Dear god, what creative imagination.

Dear me, I may have ended up thinking that somehow the parents of children may have responsibilities, how wrong can you get?

Oh, and it’s amazing how unfortunate this young lady is, (or at least some people imagine her to be,) according to some here there is no father to her child, she has no parents, and the parents of the person who fathered her kid do not exist, she is also an unfortunate victim of circumstance, having accidentally had two kids at the age of 19, and now finds herself rejecting three offers of housing. In fact we can make up all sorts of excuses, rather other than accept she may, or the father of her children may, or her parents may, have some personal responsibility, having brought two kids into the world.

If anyone suggest she may have any personal responsibility to herself or her kids, in any way, then lets all make up circumstances to absolve her of that responsibility, it’s only fair.

Of course we couldn’t expect her to live where the junkies are. Hang about, what if these people are junkies. What if they are mentally ill or have learning difficulties? Or maybe they are victims of sexual or physical abuse who have turned to drugs to alleviate their pain. Shouldn’t we have more sympathy for them? What if they were born with an intellectual impairment, and were raped by a relative, then developed schizophrenia, and were cast out onto the streets, homeless and incapable of coping, then turned to crack and heroin after being beaten up by the police on a regular basis. How would she feel is she were one of them! (I can make up stories too.)

Jim Jones; when you say; “PB acts like a soul-less asswipe and then blames everyone else.” as I had the temerity to say that people with children may need to take some personal responsibility, what you were really saying is “single mothers with kids should be given four bedroom free houses to live in luxury in and the taxpayer should give them a gold sovereign every Thursday and pay for private education for their kids”. Easy isn’t it to totally change what others say without even giving a scrap of justification.

I blame no one Jim, I was only pointing out that all I had said was;

Pommy bastard said :

Dear god. 21 mum of 2, is that a badge of honour? Ask the father(s) of the kids to buy you a nice apartment somewhere. Ask your parents to, ask the father(s) of the kids parents to. Get a job and rent somewhere nice.

To the person who had turned down three offers of public housing. If it’s not good enough for her, then what other options does she have?

okay, I call troll on this. well done op, had a lot of people sucked in and started a few fights.

Danman said :

You people make me sick.

Hopefully the hospital will have sufficient resources to find you a bed.

georgesgenitals said :

Instant Mash said :

ACT Housing seem to be, well and truly, screwed.

ACT housing, or our ability (and will) to police it?

A good point. Where are our esteemed police in all of this? If it’s common knowledge that guvvie housing is full of drugs, what’s being done to clean the place up?

I wonder how many people sitting high up in their plush red velvet lined mahogany throne of self importance pointing their finger at the OP would ask for help if they got into a desperate situation in which they needed a hand up.

Maybe you should see that she is trying to genuinely make her world better, and help her, not sit there and judge her for what she may or may not have done to get into that situation.

You people make me sick.

Pommy bastard said :

My saying that she, the kids father, her parents, the father parents should in any way contribute? What was I thinking? I’m a bad man, as so many have gone out of their way to try to show…

You assume the father is around/alive/capable of providing support? Perhaps he is not.

oh yeah and ‘I’m a bad man, as so many have gone out of their way to try to show’ toughen the hell up princess.

Pommy bastard: Yes, we hear you loud and clear – when you say “personal responsibility”, what you seem to mean is “OK kiddo, you fucked up in the past, so you deserve everything you get now – just go away, shut up and take it”. What a crock! The past is the past – no matter amount of going on about “personal responsibility” is going to enable anyone to change that. The only way to take “personal responsibility” for your current situation is to do your best to change it if it’s not what you want.

Pommy bastard said :

I’m a bad man, as so many have gone out of their way to try to show…

Oh, please don’t stop. I love it when you do this. It’s about the most entertaining show on RiotAct: PB acts like a soul-less asswipe and then blames everyone else.

I’m just gonna grab some popcorn, I’ll be back in a second.

@pandy : Oh, btw the choices she made are hers.

*makes blah blah blah puppet with hand*

We heard you the first time. We totally get it – she makes ‘dumb choices’, therefore she’s ‘stupid’, therefore she ‘deserves’ poverty, because in your glorious meritocracy everything in our lives is under our direct control and nobody ever makes a mistake.

And when her kids fall into the same cycle and turn out to be thieving, mugging smackheads who do you like a Clockwork Orange for loose change because nobody tried to look out for their interests, you’ll be the first one in line for taxpayer-funded compensation and screaming for more police to protect you.

weeziepops said :

Any areas where they manage a pass?

Turnaround time on public art commissions.

cleo said :

Pommy Bastard How lucky you were to have had good parents, especially your mother, the single mum might not have parents, and if she does, what are they like?

Yes, and if a few more parents were like mine the world would be a better place.

I mean, this lass could have had a planned pregnancy, with marriage to a supportive husband in a well paid job, with the purchase of a nice cottage with roses around the door, and her return to full time work/education, all mapped out.

And it all could have gone horribly wrong through no fault of her own, leading to her having another kid at 19, and turning down three offers of govvy housing.

Let’s not raise any issue of personal responsibility, as it is obviously a very bad thing to expect of people. My saying that she, the kids father, her parents, the father parents should in any way contribute? What was I thinking? I’m a bad man, as so many have gone out of their way to try to show…

Looking at RA postings, it seems like ACT govt is being given a fail on housing,health, education, justice and infrastructure. Any areas where they manage a pass?

Instant Mash said :

ACT Housing seem to be, well and truly, screwed.

ACT housing, or our ability (and will) to police it?

Pommy Bastard How lucky you were to have had good parents, especially your mother, the single mum might not have parents, and if she does, what are they like?

My son wasn’t diagnosed as having special needs until he was nearly twelve months old, everything was attributed to his being very prem and needing to catch up. My wife fell pregnant again within a month of his being born, in spite of responsible contraception. I chose to stick around after he was diagnosed, many fathers do not.

Housing in Canberra is really difficult, ACT Housing are notoriously bad at fulfilling their mandated responsibilities. Nobody should have to live in fear because of their neighbours, especially with young kids.

I’m no bleeding heart, but surely this is a situation that merits a bit of compassion; thankfully most responders demonstrate same, for those that don’t, maybe “there but for the grace of God go you”.

I would not open my door to anyone that time of morning, things go on here also, we have had the swat team here more than a few times, half the time I don’t know what goes on as I keep to myself, there are a few decent people here, not everyone is on drugs etc. For all these upstarts know on here, you may have been in a domestic violence relationship, and had the guts to get out, when others would not.

Hi just ring the minister for housing office, that’s what I did after waiting on the list at level 1, that’s when Wood was in, spoke to his secretary Sue, she was lovely, and guess what I had a flat in four days,turns out their was a GLITH, it’s marverlous how one person can be bothered to find out what has gone wrong. I am sure you would be entilted to a three bedroom house, and as far as swapping interstate the Housing department do NOT swap any more, god knows why. Some of these people on here have no idea why you are in these circumstances, they haven’t lived life, self obsorbed twats!

This teenage mum, who has been on the public housing waiting list since 17, then decided to have another kid, was given a choice of 3 places, took the better one and now after 2 years has decided she has special needs over other public housing tenants. Lets not forget folks, townhouses that she is in are not given single people. There are other public housing families around her, or would move into her place if she moved out. What about their rights to peace and quiet?

Oh, btw the choices she made are hers. Being young is no excuse.

indigoid said :

A constructive thing for the OP to do at this point is learn (possibly through self defence classes and similar) to project confidence and become as badass as Chuck Norris. Not with the goal of beating people up, but rather with the idea of avoiding trouble in the first place. It’s amazing how helpful this can be at making people just leave you the hell alone. It would help the OP in the long term, too, rather than just addressing an immediate need.

Yep, this single mother of two doesn’t need help in any practical form. What she really needs is a crash course in awesomeness, to learn from the man who put the “laughter” in “manslaughter”, the man whose tears cure cancer but has never cried, the man who can punch your face from behind. She won’t need to make her kids use hand sanitizers able to kill 99.9% of all germs because Chuck Norris kills 100% of whatever the f*ck he wants. Truly, Chuck will show the junkies what real speed is. And she can throw away all her birth control because there is no such thing as protection from Chuck Norris.

RiotACT welcomes constructive, thoughtful and positive comments. The good news is that one out of three allows room for improvement.

If Stan Nohope had not of spent all the spare ACT tax payer cash on the Arboretum we could of helped you.

Oh and subject all housing tenants to the same tenant rights as renting normal private rental accommodation, you mess up you get kicked out, like the rest of the us. Not suggesting you should pay expensive private rental rates, just make everyone in public housing responsible tenants.

And then maybe Red Hill would be a OK spot to live, and people in real need would be helped.

But maybe it is Government policy to run public housing into the ground with the help of junkies.

I have a friend in a very similar situation. Single parent with a young daughter, has been stuck in Stuart Flats for over two years now.

In that time, they’ve had the usual crackhead behaviour surrounding them, threats carved into their door, and their car has been broken into three times.

ACT Housing seem to be, well and truly, screwed.

While some poor decisions may have been made…no-one should have to live under those conditions. I would find it scary at my age now, let alone back when I was 21. My God that is so young to be a sole parent to two children.

I believe the best way for you to get some action from the Department is to whinge…whinge loud and whinge long. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Perhaps you can all band together and either help her fund a better place to live

We are. We pay taxes willingly, expect our governments to use them care for our most vulnerable citizens and vote them out if they don’t. And we mean care for all of them – not just the ones with limited mobility who happen to need, say, taxpayer-funded respite care in the facility-free inner north, if I were to cherry-pick a cause to suit myself as you do.

The letters of support from doctors and other social workers is the best avenue, I know that has an impact. However, this still will not mean you magically will be able to move into an suitable property tomorrow. The inherent limitation on the system is that there is simply not enough properties to go around and that suit everybody’s personal circumstances. I would guess you are already on the high needs transfer list – waiting time 632 days( http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/hcs/public_housing/waiting_lists ) but there are also other people on these lists who may be in exactly the same position or have even greater needs.

I’m just going to respond to the OP’s question and suggest she talk to the likes of the Salvation Army to help her out with focussing her efforts on obtaining a better life for herself and her kids. I suggest she seek these welfare groups out not to obtain physical assistance but to utilise their expertise in approaching the government departments established to help people like her and her young family out.

I thought that giving such suggestions to be a more useful way of expending energy than getting on my soap box and expressing an opinion on the posters in this thread, the politics of it all blah blah blah…

21 mum of 2 asked to be judged by posting her story on Riotact. She had to expect people would comment for the good and the bad.

Everyone expects safety in their houses and can contact the Police should it be threatened. The facts of public housing are that there are clusters in some areas and others are spread out amongst the wider community. Living in the govt housing in Red Hill she is in one of the most Police patrolled areas of Canberra.

Buzz2600 mentioned the problems associated with the wider community approach and 21 mum of 2 enlightens us about the ghetto problem.

Deano – what fantasy world are you living in – I have seen a bloke have half his arm cut off and another shived in the face in Havelock house.

She could always have another child – not a bad income from centrelink with 3 kids.

It’s good to see such strong suppot for the OP. Perhaps you can all band together and either help her fund a better place to live or assist her in approaching ACT Housing.

What a great Vent!

The only people getting off on the misery of others is the ACT Government and many senior appointees of the ACT public service who would not have a job if the (Stan)hopeless government was not in office. Can anyone name a human services or other area managed/operated by the ACT Government that is sound, well run and delivers what rate/tax-payers expect? Hospitals, mental health, policing, Rhodium?

Speaking of junk metal and statues of fallen comrades, keep an eye out in NSW Crescent in case our government’s sympathies extend to creating monuments for that state’s fallen Labor stars over our own disadvantaged citizens- with the full public consultation we are accustomed to, of course.

In all the posts I have read on this website, I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so appalled and disgusted by some of the responses as I am now.

Special G – No, public housing does not have to be flash, but it should be safe. I think anyone is allowed to ‘want’ that.

Indigoid – She never claimed to be more important than other people on the list (although having two small children, one with special needs should make her a higher priority).

Pandy – Don’t be so rude and judgemental. I agree with misspris – since when is being young a crime?

Weeziepops – clearly you didn’t understand this properly; or have no idea what it must be like to be a single mother, with two small children, one of whom has special needs. You don’t think it would be difficult to work full time? You don’t know the particular circumstances of this situation, therefore you can’t claim she has to ‘live with her choices’. You don’t even know what her choices were!

Pommy Bastard – You absolutely are a bastard, clearly with no comprehension of the complex and difficult family situations some people experience. Even the use of your ‘father(s)’ is indicative of your judgemental attitude and assumption-making.

Some people, often through no fault or choice of their own, are born into, or experience during their lives, unfortunate circumstances. It’s often easy for those of us who have had positive upbringings and protective factors to think it should be easy for others to help themselves. But imagine if, all of those people and factors that contributed towards our positive upbringing/experiences were taken away (or never existed)? We absolutely cannot judge others without completely understanding (and empathising) their lives.

@weeziepops: we all need to take responsibility for the choices we make

Poverty isn’t a choice. It’s a cycle you’re almost certainly born into, or fall into (are you really going to claim that mental illness is a choice? What are you, a batsh.t insane scientologist?). For every gold star special snowflake who breaks out of it (usually through dumb luck), there are a thousand who don’t. But if you want to play that game:

– your neck injury is a choice, and I hope you’re not getting any public money to treat it
– you choose to buy dodgy avocado sandwiches, and you should just deal with it in silence
– you choose to be a vegetarian, so lets not hear you griping about the limited choices available at most
– you choose to believe that you’re about to be a victim of violent crime, so you should just suck it up when people shout at you for being a loon with a dog and a club;
– you choose to drive on Castleton Crescent in peak hour – just take it as it comes rather than whining about it online
– I hope you told your deadbeat friend who wants a package from the public service that they need to be responsible for their career choices

…I’m bored now. Do try to be a smaller, smarter target in future.

Well I”m gobsmacked Canberra 2009 and there are people still who get off on the misery of others and correct me if I’m wrong are they the people who have plenty? Question is: if they are living so comfortably without a care in the world how did that happen? A good chance it was from hard work and application but maybe it was just plain good luck, right place at the right time , stable family history/background and not having to compete unfairly with others willing to F… U Over. Just be a bit grateful for what you have and have some time for those without. Old saying be nice to people on your way up ’cause you will be seeing them again on your way down.

“Career Claimant families’ tend to live in clusters of govvie housing, where all the kids see is that way of life.

I agree with you PB – to help these kids with not joining those ranks, we should be pulling out all the stops to get them into a public housing place in a nice quiet street, where they can live amongst people who work and lead normal lives.

Ive got to wonder a few things, having known people who have found themselves in almost this same situation. Firstly, as others have pointed out, whats wrong with private rentals instead of govvie? Sure, you might be paying a little bit extra, but is that little extra not worth it for yours and your childrens safety?

Also, centrelink is of great benefit to people in this situation, they will provide you with an income, rent support, even financial support to help get suitable jobs or transport options such as bus tickets. Not to forget as others have mentioned above, what about your family or the childrens father(s)? Surely you could get some help there, from child-minding so you can find (better?) work, or even as far as child support.

My last thought, is while your situation is sad, I know of many people who are in similar situations to yourself. What about a parent who has 2 special needs kids? What about a family where one of the parents is injured/disabled and unable to work, also requiring care?

pb, just where/who is the father? alive? in prison? a person with a serious mental illness? a bigamist? how do you know? same about the op’s parents. you make a lot of unfounded assumptions and show very little compassion. maybe have a think about some of your own life choices and follow to a logical conclusion what might have happened if you’d made a different, wrong one – or if something disastrous had occurred, something over which you had no control and which was entirely detrimental to your outlook, then come back and post on the subject…

AngryHenry said :

And what ‘choice’ do you think the OP’s kids have?

None, therefore the onus is on the person(s) bringing kids into the world to ensure, as far as possible, that they are able to provide adequately for them. Having a special needs kid at 18 yrs old is enough work on its own, having another kid a year later is at best bad planning, at worse seriously unthinking. (The cause of kids is well known. Safety measures are available free)

I seem to be the only one here who thinks the fathers of these kids, and the girl in question’s family, should bear some responsibility. And people seem to be putting a lot of thought into making up reasons why this young girl may deserve to turn down three chances of free housing, but very little into thinking about what responsibility she should assume. I await the inevitable; “she’s probably been abandoned by her family and the fathers run away after they got their oats, responses. But what if this is not the case, what if she comes from career claimant families where this is the norm and the expectation. Should we encourage that? (But lets not even consider that,that entails thinking about personal responsibility.)

I totally sympathise. ACT Public Housing is a disgrace but this agency and the problems being faced by tenants/neighbours of PH tenants are symptomatic of the bigger issues to do with level of govt funding for drug rehabilitation, mental health issues and alternative housing options (ie institutions?). There is NO WHERE to put these people.

I lived next to a PH housing tenant for three years (he moved in AFTER I bought my unit). I (and other neighbours in the complex) had to cope with the noise, the violence, the intimidation, the parties with his equally dodgy alcohol and druggy ‘friends’ that would last for days. Call the police? Yep, many times …they would come, if they can be bothered, have a friendly chat, asked him/them to stop doing whatever it is the complaints were about and then leave again … no consequences, no laws being enforced. PH finally admitted there was no where for this guy to go.

Allowing these little kids to grow up in druggie-ville is of benefit to society how exactly?

Giving kids a good start in life is the best thing we can do and will actually save money in the long term.

Pommy bastard said :

Interesting how many single out my comments, even though I was not in any way disparaging of this person, yet others were. (Racism?) And like weezipops, how do you know I haven’t been through these situations?

I was brought up in a council house (govt housing) by a chronically ill father, who spent the majority of his adult life unemployed due to ill health, and a mother who busted her guts to provide for us. They encouraged me to work hard, pay my own way, and to better myself, was that so wrong?

Did anybody here say it was?

Pommy bastard said :

The writer of the OP has been offered two chances of govvy housing, and yet makes no mention of any attempts by her, her family, or the fathers of her kids to provide for themselves. I’m a firm believer in the state helping those who are fallen on hard times, I fully support the state helping those who through misfortune or illness or other problems cannot provide for themselves.

Firstly, I’m fascinated with your telepathic ability. You know so much about her that isn’t mentioned, including that she doesn’t work, she hadn’t been trying to find work, that her family and father(s) are still around and also aren’t trying to help.

Secondly, I like how you seem to imply that your chronically ill father was deserving of assistance because of his condition (I’m not saying he wasn’t), but that her special needs child is not. This kind of thought process seems to be pretty common among people who think like you on these issues.

And thirdly, a lot of places in Canberra are really not safe for a young single woman to live with kids. Beggars can’t be choosers but fortunately in Australia we try to help people so they don’t have to beg.

Pommy bastard said :

But let us not kid ourselves that there are not those who would take full advantage of the system and have a “sense of entitlement”, without having the courtesy to pay back into the system.

I’m not saying this young lady is one, but “career claimants” do exist.

Undoubtedly. And I think our system does quite a bit to make it hard for them (and, unfortunately, genuine claimants). However I am of the opinion that we should err on the side of caution here. Interestingly you’d probably agree with me on that, but your side of caution would be opposite to my side.

You know what, we also need to help those who might not be able to help themselves. And that includes ones who have previously made mistakes of their own. Taken to a logical conclusion, you would rather not have the government pay for emergency hospital treatment for someone who say has a car accident because they weren’t paying attention for a second?

And never mind the fact that you don’t even know the background of this mum of 2. Having a child at 19 isn’t necessarily a bad choice if that’s what you want and if you are in the position to. Things change, she might have been able to cope well and been laid off unexpectedly during the downturn, she might have had a partner who died or made bad choices of his own. Or genuinely made bad choices of her own. But who are you to decide?

Seeing as how you don’t take your money with you when you go (or even if you did), I find it incredible that some people are so offended by the idea of helping people who are down on their luck. Even if you aren’t the least bit concerned by anybody else, then actually I think spending money on this kind of social support is very worthwhile and it would have indirect benefits to you even if you never use it.

Maybe you could try moving to USA. Nice low taxes, aversion to spending money on social programs, dog eat dog, rampant crime and drug problems, nasty healthcare system, huge inequality between rich and poor, low life expectency and quality of life for a rich western country, elitist higher education system, incredible amount of homeless. This isn’t what I’ve seen on TV, I’ve been to several states including so called progressive states like California and the pacific northwest, and I don’t like what I see. The us versus them, haves versus have nots, dog eat dog mentality feeds on itself and drives people further apart. Some people seem to like it though. Like the super rich there who live in their guarded compounds in their high fenced mansions, who are driven everywhere and never have to interact with the commoners.

Each to their own I guess. Who am I to say your opinion is wrong? But I’m glad that in Australia, we still seem to be leaning somewhat further toward my ideals than yours. So I’ll leave it at that.

weeziepops said :

How do you know I haven’t been through any of those situations? The fact is, we all need to take responsibility for the choices we make.

And what ‘choice’ do you think the OP’s kids have?

….I’m sorry mum, but you already got your hand out getting public housing. I work 3 jobs (and my wife 2) to keep a roof over our family.

If you want something better, don’t ask for it, go ot there and work for it.

Are landlords responsible for junkies on doorsteps or are the police?

I would suggest that you contact the police about your safety concerns as well as requesting that ACT Housing put you on a transfer list.

Pandy said :

Sorry you had a special needs kid and then a year later decideed to have another kid. All Before the age of 19?

this isn’t helpful; there can be many reasons why people choose – or otherwise – to have children younger than you might; and this is about the kids, who hadn’t a say in the matter, after all… who are you to judge (and on such scant evidence)??

+1 to what miz said

Well, short of acquiring a time-machine it sounds to me like the OP is doing a pretty good job of trying to improve her current situation.

(Oh, and since this plainly obvious fact seems to have escaped some people’s powers of inquiry: Until children reach school-age, it’s not possible to leave them at home while you work full time – and entry-level positions do not pay nearly enough to afford child care).

I’d avoided reading these comments until now, because I didn’t think I’d like what I saw. What a pleasant surprise to find that most comments are supportive! Two thumbs up.

Interesting how many single out my comments, even though I was not in any way disparaging of this person, yet others were. (Racism?) And like weezipops, how do you know I haven’t been through these situations?

I was brought up in a council house (govt housing) by a chronically ill father, who spent the majority of his adult life unemployed due to ill health, and a mother who busted her guts to provide for us. They encouraged me to work hard, pay my own way, and to better myself, was that so wrong?

The writer of the OP has been offered two chances of govvy housing, and yet makes no mention of any attempts by her, her family, or the fathers of her kids to provide for themselves. I’m a firm believer in the state helping those who are fallen on hard times, I fully support the state helping those who through misfortune or illness or other problems cannot provide for themselves.

But let us not kid ourselves that there are not those who would take full advantage of the system and have a “sense of entitlement”, without having the courtesy to pay back into the system.

I’m not saying this young lady is one, but “career claimants” do exist.

Cletus 2 said :

I’m sorry, this is bullshit. I pay quite a bit of tax and I WANT that to go, in large part, towards improving the average quality of life for Australians. There are people who are in bad situations through no fault of their own. Also, heaven forbid, ones that have made some bad choices. I certainly would rather my money go towards people rather than a statue of a corrupt politician or another rubbish tip along gungahlin drive.

As a long-term resident of Weston Creek I see no problem with more rubbish tips along Gungahlin Dr. 😉

I, too, pay my share of tax and am quite content to have the suit-wearers spend it on welfare and the like. In part I view it as giving something back to pay for the times I have had to rely on it myself.

Still, beggars can’t be choosers.

A constructive thing for the OP to do at this point is learn (possibly through self defence classes and similar) to project confidence and become as badass as Chuck Norris. Not with the goal of beating people up, but rather with the idea of avoiding trouble in the first place. It’s amazing how helpful this can be at making people just leave you the hell alone. It would help the OP in the long term, too, rather than just addressing an immediate need.

It is a poor world when we don’t take care of the vulnerable in our society! I feel for the two kidlets and hope you can find a solution soon. Would it be worth sharing a house with another Mum who is in the same situation?

How do you know I haven’t been through any of those situations? The fact is, we all need to take responsibility for the choices we make.

weeziepops said :

I WANT a welfare state which supports people who cannot support themselves. The elderly, people with a disability etc. Not people who make life choices and then complain about the support they are offered. If that makes me a bigot, fine.

Here’s hoping you never get struck down with a mental illness, make some poor choices and end up in rough times…

Oh how awful.

I would just keep on trying – get letters from your GP, your social worker, anyone that works with the kids, and send copies to all ACT ministers.

Unfortunately there just aren’t many good housing places that come up, so it may take a while. Could you offer to accept a smaller place to get moved quicker?

Good luck with it

I agree with Cletus 2, VT and the other sympathetic readers.

Pommy Bastard – I hope that one day you find yourself at the mercy of a government and society that, for a large part, fails to help those in need.

Dear Mum, don’t be disheartened – I suggest you go to CHADS (Child health) if you are a client, where they have counsellors who can write a letter of support. If not CHADS, then the specialists you see can do this. Also, see a GP for YOURSELF as you sound very stressed – they should also be able to write a letter of support. Then, make an appointment with ACT Housing and present the letters of support. It can also help to get your local MLA and federal member involved, as they can write directly to the Department on your behalf as a constituent.

And ignore the ignorant and judgmental comments posted above – people who haven’t been there don’t understand how simplistic it is to just say ‘get a job’, given the childcare difficulties, the costs of rent in the ACT, the fact that one of your children probably needs a full time carer (ie you), I imagine you hardly have time to scratch yourself let alone rent a DVD or have a coffee or do any of the simple pleasures most take for granted. Just, don’t despair. Keep at the bureaucracy and enlist the support mentioned above.

Also these critics probably don’t appreciate that you are doing the right thing in that you are concerned about your children’s wellbeing, not forgetting that your kids may be the ones wiping these critical people’s @rse when they are in a nursing home! – but that’s another story.

All the best.

@ Pommy bastard: If her parents could help her she wouldn’t be living in public housing, would she? What she needs is the support and help of a child and family centre or somebody who cares. If you can’t find anybody in Canberra that’s really sad. Perhaps try any of these:

http://www.canberrakids.com.au/category/110

Get a proper education. Perhaps one of these centres can help you get it (even if you have 2 children to look after). It’s not too late!

I WANT a welfare state which supports people who cannot support themselves. The elderly, people with a disability etc. Not people who make life choices and then complain about the support they are offered. If that makes me a bigot, fine.

The problem isn’t so much public housing and the people who live in them, but how it is managed. Throwing together a bunch of people with financial, social, mental, and drug related problems in small complexes with nothing more than basic facilities management is always going to make life hell.

A good example for how it can be done successfully is Ainslie Village since the management of it has been taken over by Havelock Housing Association. It has gone from being an infamous trouble spot to being fully functional community. Having a management that takes a holistic approach to the problem makes a big difference.

@Cletus 2

+1

There’s some cold-hearted people out there.

Pommy bastard said :

Dear god. 21 mum of 2, is that a badge of honour? Ask the father(s) of the kids to buy you a nice apartment somewhere. Ask your parents to, ask the father(s) of the kids parents to. Get a job and rent somewhere nice.

Wow, you really are a bastard.

Pommy bastard said :

Dear god. 21 mum of 2, is that a badge of honour? Ask the father(s) of the kids to buy you a nice apartment somewhere. Ask your parents to, ask the father(s) of the kids parents to. Get a job and rent somewhere nice.

I hope you never fall into an unfortunate situation where you need someone’s help with an attitude like that.

I’m sorry, this is bullshit. I pay quite a bit of tax and I WANT that to go, in large part, towards improving the average quality of life for Australians. There are people who are in bad situations through no fault of their own. Also, heaven forbid, ones that have made some bad choices. I certainly would rather my money go towards people rather than a statue of a corrupt politician or another rubbish tip along gungahlin drive.

Socialism and helping people are not bad things, despite what big corporations and brainwashed Americans would like to tell you.

Dear god. 21 mum of 2, is that a badge of honour? Ask the father(s) of the kids to buy you a nice apartment somewhere. Ask your parents to, ask the father(s) of the kids parents to. Get a job and rent somewhere nice.

I can’t believe the bigotry expressed here. Just because she needs public housing doesn’t mean she should be treated like a low-grade citizen.

Would be worthwhile seeing if you could get a place in Queanbeyan through NSW Housing instead. Or perhaps swap your ACT Housing tenancy for a NSW Housing tenancy if there’s a Queanbeyan family who would be better off in Red Hill. Queanbeyan’s so close to Canberra that you might find you’ve got better living conditions without being too far away from the services you use for your special needs child.

Get a job and pay for your housing yourself. We all make choices and have to live with them – and the luxury of choice costs.

Sounds like a nightmare. I agree with Fiona – if you have access to a social worker then I’d be enlisting their help. It also probably wouldn’t hurt to get your GP involved if you can. I really hope that you manage to get this situation sorted out for you and your children.

Pandy – since when has being young been a crime?

Pris

WTB a fullstop in there somewhere.

If the OP wants, I will offer to assist communicating with officials.

+1 Thumper and VY. Since when did needing government assistance mean you had to give up your reasonable expectations of safety? Since when is it good enough for those responsible for law and order to say “meh, houso scum, not my problem?”

Paragraphs, punctuation and a lack of rambling may assist in making your letters more effective.

Here’s a Dilbert comic for you.

your situation sucks but not much you can do if you rely on public housing but maybe talk to the police as well to do something about your neighbours not that that would do much good straight away but also keep bothering housing until they move you somewhere else even if it just to keep you quiet and stops you from bothering them but at least you have a roof over your head

I thought smack heads and speed freaks had human rights too…? Surely they have the right to get hammered and lie around all day where little kids can see them? And besides, aren’t arty festivals are far more important than safe housing for children?

It’s stories like this that should make Canberrans ashamed of their constant whinging.

Sorry you had a special needs kid and then a year later decideed to have another kid. All Before the age of 19?

Paragraphs, punctuation and a lack of rambling may assist in making your letters more effective.

What do you think makes you any more important than the other people on the waiting list for public housing? Ever heard the old saying “beggars can’t be choosers?”

What do you want? It is public housing. It does not necessarily have to be flash and many people who reside in public housing just happen to be the neighbours you mention.

If you have a social worker through having a kid with special needs perhaps talk to them about what your options are and whether they can write supporting letters.

I would suggest giving A Current Affair a call. This sounds like it’s right up their alley, and will hopefully shame the Government into cutting funding for Floriade, and maybe one or two other hippie festivals, and putting the money where it is really needed.

Well, the Government could give you David Eastman’s gubby house, but that might infringe his human rights. I’m sorry, I wish there was a solution for your children but public housing in the ACT is well and truly stuffed.