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Post by sweet1mary on May 1, 2019 3:31:09 GMT 7
Hi i am in australia and i have recently applied for public housing and was put on the highest possible priority list. They said it will be no longer than 2-3 year wait.
I am not happy in my current accom and it is hazardous and not happy with the landlord.
My question is, should i try to move into community housing while i wait on public housing? (Comm housing and public housing are different.) Or should i be careful not to rock the boat, as I feel like they dont take me seriously at the housing agency. Just as they dont take me seriously in other areas of "the system".
What is community housing really like? Any info would be appreciated, as i dont know much about it.
Thanks. Mary.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 5:58:41 GMT 7
Welcome to the forum Mary. While I don't have any personal experience with either public or community housing; I have a friend who was in a similar situation.
Due to the nature of their disabilities, waiting years for the public system wasn't a good option for them. They have ended up in an Anglicare Unit block, which has very similar rental costs to the public system, and have been living there happily for the last several years. Is something like that, what you refer to as community housing? This is in Queensland! Cheers bear
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Post by nomadic on May 1, 2019 6:34:39 GMT 7
welcome, Mary, I believe that if you are in danger of becoming homeless you can contact Justice Connect. I know they are in Melbourne for certain and think they are in all capital cities. They are a great mob for many things related to injustices for poor people.
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Post by tasjo on May 1, 2019 6:56:32 GMT 7
Like bear I havent experienced public or community housing but have a few friends who do.
I believe community housing can vary from one state to another... I'm in Tas.
Community housing here generally work parallel to public housing, through agencies like Anglicare. They offer mostly public housing but also work with private landlords and also assist with subsidised purchase schemes.
I have found that friends who have gone through community housing have typically had a much shorter wait time, and unlike public housing they have qualified for rent assistance. Their rent is still adjusted according to their income and it doesn't seem to be different to public housing.
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Post by Denis-NFA on May 1, 2019 7:32:43 GMT 7
Hi i am in australia and i have recently applied for public housing and was put on the highest possible priority list. They said it will be no longer than 2-3 year wait. I am not happy in my current accom and it is hazardous and not happy with the landlord. My question is, should i try to move into community housing while i wait on public housing? (Comm housing and public housing are different.) Or should i be careful not to rock the boat, as I feel like they dont take me seriously at the housing agency. Just as they dont take me seriously in other areas of "the system". What is community housing really like? Any info would be appreciated, as i dont know much about it. Thanks. Mary. Welcome sweet1maryAs others have indicated above housing options vary from State to State. If you are able to say what State you are in would help Forum Folk to 'point' you in a direction. It concerns me that you consider your current accommodation to be hazardous! Please tell someone near where you currently live of your situation. Kind Regards Denis |
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Post by sweet1mary on May 1, 2019 7:40:33 GMT 7
Yeah thanks everyone for the feedback, especially tasjo was quite helpful.
I am in Victoria.
In victoria i thought the community housing was where a few people with disabilities or on low income are in a rooming house together with shared kitchen and bathroom and social worker on site. But im not sure, thats just what ive heard.
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Post by tasjo on May 1, 2019 9:43:44 GMT 7
I believe community housing do assist with group/supported housing as well but from a quick look online it appears they are also the same as in Tas.
They can also look at transitional housing (a friend has recently secure transitional housing after being homeless) which is used until they find a permanent spot.
Only thing that may be an issue is that you have a current home and would therefore be a bit lower on the list than someone with the same priority who is homeless.
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Post by leanne on May 1, 2019 10:25:33 GMT 7
Hi I am in Australia and I have recently applied for public housing and was put on the highest possible priority list. They said it will be no longer than 2-3 year wait. I am not happy in my current accommodation and it is hazardous and not happy with the landlord. My question is, should I try to move into community housing while I wait on public housing? (Community housing and public housing are different.) Or should I be careful not to rock the boat, as I feel like they don't take me seriously at the housing agency. Just as they don't take me seriously in other areas of "the system". What is community housing really like? Any info would be appreciated, as I don't know much about it. Thanks. Mary. Hi Mary, quite a complex topic, especially as things in Australia are different state by state and by personal conditions, disabilities, etc.
Sometimes (depending on states) if you find accommodation within the community/social housing schemes you could be shifted to the bottom of the public housing list (or even cancelled), so my advice would be to be readily informed. Before applying, ask the offices/departments involved, even better find their policies (if available online), and read them accurately.
I would also advice you to use mail/emails as much as possible, better to have things in writing  ...
By experience, housing services in some states work better than others (I don't know in Victoria), also sometimes its about being just lucky to be in contact with a "good officer". Being fortunate to have a prepared and willing Case Officer can really make a huge difference, as most workers are told to "don't give advice", meaning "go by script and don't expose yourself and/or the office with promises, details, time-frames, etc, about how it really works, especially in writing".
Unfortunately, nowadays we have to deal with public servants that are "gone wrong" since politicians and department lawyers are more concern to "protect" them-self rather than to serve the citizens as they should.
This is why lately, I always end my correspondence with these people writing something like:
Concluding, I would like to report what has been stated by several valuable people and organisations, such as the Australian Institute of Family Studies, Australian Courts and advocates, that "Whatever the legislation is, it is designed to assist the citizens, particularly the needy and the disadvantaged, not to aggravate their life".
It is difficult to give you more advice or information without more details from you. I do understand that this is a public forum and information here given are private and sensitive, but if you need more accurate information try to provide more details about your position and what you are really looking for or about your specific concerns.
Have a nice day, Leanne
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 13:14:42 GMT 7
Hi I am in Australia and I have recently applied for public housing and was put on the highest possible priority list. They said it will be no longer than 2-3 year wait. I am not happy in my current accommodation and it is hazardous and not happy with the landlord. My question is, should I try to move into community housing while I wait on public housing? (Community housing and public housing are different.) Or should I be careful not to rock the boat, as I feel like they don't take me seriously at the housing agency. Just as they don't take me seriously in other areas of "the system". What is community housing really like? Any info would be appreciated, as I don't know much about it. Thanks. Mary. Hi Mary, quite a complex topic, especially as things in Australia are different state by state and by personal conditions, disabilities, etc.
Sometimes (depending on states) if you find accommodation within the community/social housing schemes you could be shifted to the bottom of the public housing list (or even cancelled), so my advice would be to be readily informed. Before applying, ask the offices/departments involved, even better find their policies (if available online), and read them accurately.
I would also advice you to use mail/emails as much as possible, better to have things in writing ...
By experience, housing services in some states work better than others (I don't know in Victoria), also sometimes its about being just lucky to be in contact with a "good officer". Being fortunate to have a prepared and willing Case Officer can really make a huge difference, as most workers are told to "don't give advice", meaning "go by script and don't expose yourself and/or the office with promises, details, time-frames, etc, about how it really works, especially in writing".
Unfortunately, nowadays we have to deal with public servants that are "gone wrong" since politicians and department lawyers are more concern to "protect" them-self rather than to serve the citizens as they should.
This is why lately, I always end my correspondence with these people writing something like:
Concluding, I would like to report what has been stated by several valuable people and organisations, such as the Australian Institute of Family Studies, Australian Courts and advocates, that "Whatever the legislation is, it is designed to assist the citizens, particularly the needy and the disadvantaged, not to aggravate their life".
It is difficult to give you more advice or information without more details from you. I do understand that this is a public forum and information here given are private and sensitive, but if you need more accurate information try to provide more details about your position and what you are really looking for or about your specific concerns.
Have a nice day, Leanne
Welcome to the forum leanne . Thanks for such a helpful opening post, and oh so pertinent to the political climate we unfortunately find ourselves in stoday; it is indeed a must, to be as fully informed as humanly possible, just to gain what is rightfully our as determined through legislation. Nice one! Cheers bear  |
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Post by leanne on May 1, 2019 16:02:48 GMT 7
Hi i am in australia and i have recently applied for public housing and was put on the highest possible priority list. They said it will be no longer than 2-3 year wait. I am not happy in my current accom and it is hazardous and not happy with the landlord. My question is, should i try to move into community housing while i wait on public housing? (Comm housing and public housing are different.) Or should i be careful not to rock the boat, as I feel like they dont take me seriously at the housing agency. Just as they dont take me seriously in other areas of "the system". What is community housing really like? Any info would be appreciated, as i dont know much about it.Thanks. Mary.
Mary, sorry I forgot that:
1) If it helps (strategically), hazards and harassing/bad landlords may be a good reason to brake the lease so to (legally) leave before then end of your contract, obviously without paying fees. You have to prove it, and you may have to apply to your Residential Tribunal. It is stressful but it can be done quite simply. You are able to do so on the phone or using the Vic Tribunal website and email.
But remember, before applying or trying mediation, you should try to solve writing to your landlord. For the details look for your Residential Act and the related forms, they are surely available on the Vic Courts and/or the Vic Consumers websites;
2) What do you mean with "they don't take me seriously"?
Ciao, Leanne
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Post by leanne on May 1, 2019 16:24:13 GMT 7
Welcome to the forum leanne . Thanks for such a helpful opening post, and oh so pertinent to the political climate we unfortunately find ourselves in stoday; it is indeed a must, to be as fully informed as humanly possible, just to gain what is rightfully our as determined through legislation. Nice one! Cheers bear
Thanks Bear, as you can see from my "signature" I'm just trying to return the favour . As a returning expat my mood is seriously compromised by how things have turned very wrong in this country. Even though it's true that we still live in a very "lucky country" (see below), most people do not fully realise what it means or they do for the wrong reasons. I can surely say that this it is not just my personal experience, it is a fact. This article ("How a decade as an expat destroyed my Australian dream", www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/culture/article/2018/01/16/how-decade-expat-destroyed-my-australian-dream) is very similar to my experience, except that it tells only a 20-30% of what I found is deeply wrong. Obviously, just my point of view, but it's a too common experience to be untrue. Most Australians probably do not even know that the term "lucky country" was meant to be critic of our system (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lucky_Country), that it means that "Australia is a lucky country, run by second-rate people who share its luck." Indeed, the author Donald Horne, in the decades following his book's publication, became very critical of the "lucky country" phrase being used improperly, turned and abused by some (sold) journalists and (bad) politicians as a way to say "we should be proud of our achievements". Please note that all this was decades ago, so... what about now? What would Donald Horne, or other great Australian authors, good politicians, great ambassadors, leading journalists and intellectuals say about the current "Australian system"? I may have an idea, and it doesn't sound pretty, it would probably be something like this: Donald Horne’s ‘lucky country’ and the decline of the public intellectual (https://theconversation.com/donald-hornes-lucky-country-and-the-decline-of-the-public-intellectual-80743). This was also to induce myself a little. In any case, nice to meet you all, it's good to read this unique forum and I hope you all will appreciate my contribution. Somehow, we have to continue to discuss and to share, but also start acting and thinking "out of the box" about how to regain terrain. This system cannot be beaten using the system itself as it is "corrupted", we have to find a new democratic and assertive way to do it. Most political parties are like multinationals, the others are more like "personal parties". For now I "hold my nose and vote" (the less worst), but I'm tired to do it, too often. Have a nice evening, Leanne
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Post by nomadic on May 1, 2019 16:54:18 GMT 7
Welcome Leanne, you have pretty much summed up mine and many others on this forums views. As I have said many times, Who would have believed 30 years ago that retirees and disabled Australians are now fleeing the once lucky country in droves for better lives in Thailand, let alone Cambodia or Laos. Sci-fi stuff a few years ago. Yes, indeed we need a totally new system as it will only get worse unless we do. We now in Asia on UP are the very lucky ones and only those who don't know how much better it is are still in Oz. Boat people in reverse we are.
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Post by latindancer on May 2, 2019 6:31:22 GMT 7
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Post by nomadic on May 2, 2019 7:23:17 GMT 7
yeah Latin , we blind Freddies here all know that but not the politicians. They now jail those on DSP for 48 weeks every year so they can't enjoy life.
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Post by pete57ad on May 6, 2019 6:46:19 GMT 7
I have experienced both co-operative house and community housing, both are similar, and usually the properties are owned by state gov. Some are privately owned and some are for low income earners, rent is charged at 25% of pension plus services if you choose, ( gardeners etc)
Co-Op housing, the properties are managed by the tenants as a group, for example, one group may have 12 properties/houses.
Each tenant has a "job", maintenance,inspections, rents, financial and so on, on a annual rotating system. There are meetings and AGM and alot more , too much to mention here.
Community Housing is much the same as Co-Op housing, but the management of the properties is run by a single entity, all abide by the basic rules set out by the state housing.
House Trust, is all run by gov
Take your pick.
There was a time when these properties were being sold to the public as tenants left, this is due to the increase in real estate prices.
There was a time when the private sector would get "upset" because the gov was buying houses at the auctions.
Something changed that in the back rooms the respected parliaments, but then we had the international invaders of Australia's real estate and snowballed everyone, till the rules changed again !
Today, I live in a modest ex Co-Op house, managed by a Community Housing group, I believe they have over 250 properties, some owned by the organization, some still owned by the gov.
Before I got mine on 2002, I was homeless after marriage break up, and lived on the streets or lounge surfing, on DSP
Due to a stroke of luck in a poker game, one of the players during coffee break suggested I call a number and ask for an info pack. When the info pack arrived, the lights blared at me like the sun, I went to the local library, filled out all 15 proposals, and within a month I was housed. Due to my personal circumstances, family courts and my then kids, I was put on priority 1.
I'm still here, and have never missed my rent.
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