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Post by Banjo on Aug 27, 2013 7:11:32 GMT 7
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Post by spaceyone on Aug 27, 2013 13:16:09 GMT 7
I have actually just qualified again for crisis accommodation, by meeting the requirement of trying all the charity organisations first. A social worker at the hospital spent two hours phoning around for me. The only room I could get is an hour away, and $150 up front. The social worker also phoned housing to advise them of that. They said they would call her back, but they never did. A man I was talking to at a hang out centre for the homeless today, said that police warned him last night they are currently conducting an operation called "Harrass the Homeless". Seems our government would rather drive us out of the cities, rather than help us. But what happens once we leave the city?
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Post by Banjo on Aug 27, 2013 14:15:26 GMT 7
This is the same as the "zero tolerance" approach to crime, it moves the problem onto your neighbour's turf.
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Post by fedup on Aug 27, 2013 16:51:15 GMT 7
Well at least the social worker was of some help,in regards the police,etc,seem to be following the USA,where in some states they want to make homelessness a crime.
Despicable policies by despicable people
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Post by spaceyone on Aug 28, 2013 8:34:04 GMT 7
Yes, its really getting beyond a joke. At last here in NSW the $100 fine for sleeping in your car does not apply, as it does in Qld. However, local councils can fine you if you park somewhere too close to the beach. It is easier now that I have this place to hang out and shower at. Have my own laptop online here too now. Someone is playing didgeridoo. But I am recording the whole experience as I go and posting about some of it to my blog. Hopefully we can expose the game, before the next general election, and do their plans for us some damage. Housing are now back to trying to force me to prove that I gave up my residence due to being under threat. They better be careful what they ask for. It might incriminate some of their buddies.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2013 12:09:48 GMT 7
Well at least the social worker was of some help,in regards the police,etc,seem to be following the USA,where in some states they want to make homelessness a crime. Despicable policies by despicable people The Liberals will probably make being poor a crime.
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Post by spaceyone on Aug 29, 2013 7:59:22 GMT 7
Finally forced Housing to grant me accommodation. Its just a shame you have to threaten and stamp your feet to get anywhere with these places.
However, it was just in the nic of time. The discs in my lower back are collapsing again, I am limping, my forearm mucscles have collapsed and I am fully going back into a period of pain and restricted movements. The past three years of rest and healing, have all been undone by four days and nights of wandering the streets, and sleeping in my car.
I am now in the same condition I left the workforce in, when I applied for DSP. Thanks Human Services, I appreciate all your help and support, in keeping me out of the workforce once again.
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Post by fedup on Aug 29, 2013 10:32:30 GMT 7
Trust things improve for you spacey one ,inhuman services strikes again,as I have stated before,we seem to spend more time justifying our impairments ,when they already have the proof,and neglecting our own health in the process,C/L should be classified as a disease,as it inflicts a fate worse than death.
Once again ,trust all improves
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Post by latindancer on Aug 29, 2013 17:36:54 GMT 7
I too hope that things are now going to improve for you, Spacey. And with Spring coming in 2 days, you should feel better (or at least warmer). It's a wonderful time of year.....make the most of it.
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Post by spaceyone on Sept 2, 2013 7:08:01 GMT 7
Thanks guys. Has been nice to be able to rest, after the shocks and trauma I was put through. Paid for three nights in the motel, after the first two paid for by housing, because I was just too sick to move on. I thought the rest had done me some good, but feeling sick again today. Just got approved for another three nights, then hopefully will sort something out before I have to go back in there and beg again.
The motel owner even commented that they don't get much business from housing these days, even though this is the main place they put people into here. Its obvious that most people are being denied help, to save the wasteful government some bucks.
I watched a lady have a melt down in Housing today. Five kids and living in the street for the past couple of weeks, but had just been approved for a rental property, which after paying the rent will leave her very little to live on. While her abusive ex-husband has retained their commission house in Sydney, parts of which he smashed up, and pays just $60 a week.
Welfare agencies gone mad, or were they always this bad?
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Post by Banjo on Sept 2, 2013 7:27:08 GMT 7
I think they are cut to the bone Spacey, the attack on Welfare Rights funding in NSW is the thin edge of the wedge. Commonwealth funding cuts next year will be huge.
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Post by fonze on Aug 13, 2014 8:01:47 GMT 7
My experience is bitter sweet and is like a John Cleese script, I have left exact dates out because records were misplaced while in my sons' care I am an electrician and have worked in mining and construction all my working life. I need 2 knee replacements, have spine problems and pacemaker fitted, all documented by specialists and GP.
I have applied for dsp 3 times in last 4 years and each time have had application rejected and been placed on newstart. The first assesment took place at medibank office in Pirie street, the second at Marion c/l office and the final one at Glenelg c/l office.
The first assesment wasn,t done by a c/l person but a private health professional. She checked my posture, gait and general mobility and took lots of notes. She said I fell short on score in assesment tables but was going to recomend it be paid dsp. The result was 15/20, I was pissed off but decided to head back to Thailand and try again next visit, it was so cold and I was so depressed.
The next assesment was held at marion c/l office and the assesor identified herself as a health professional. At a meeting with caseworker was told the application was again rejected, I asked the question "why was I rejected when I clearly still have mobilty and heart problems ", answer " you were assesed with lower score than last one ", question "how can I have lower score than last assesment, knees dont replace themselves" The caseworker agreed and rang assesor who wasn,t at his/her desk (I didn't expect any joy there, it was a friday afternoon and he/she was either at pub or flexed off), caseworker said she would get the assesor to call me. In the mean time I was placed on newstart without need to show evidence of job searching.
My third application for dsp went as expected, rejected, but this time I came to hunt bear. Just b4 easter this year(2014), I had eighty odd dollars deducted from my newstart payment, contacted staff and they said I had a debt because I never submitted the forms showing job search activity, the guy I spoke to said for the moment he would get debt reduced to minimum and would contact debt recovery unit and cancel debt altogether. Anway 2 payments ago newstart payment was minus $80, so down to c/l glenelg again and was told debt recovery unit had been active. I was gobsmacked, easter I am told everything will be fine and july I have debt again??? After the normal waiting time on telephone spoke to young lady and was told that I hadnt submitted the activity form, I explained that I was told that I have to submit the form, it's part of the newstart benefit conditions. I explained that I was told in my case it was unnessary by marion caseworker. She says you must show activity no matter what and again I repeated it was unnessary and she says the onus is on me to understand all the rules and conditions relating to newstart. Next thing she says I had an exemption from job search for 1/2 of the 3 month exeption period so the debt was incorrect and she will sort it out. She passes me over to debt recovery and they agree to replace the $80 next day.
Now here is kicker, the $80 was replaced that day and I got a letter from debt recovery unit, the debt was now $0.00.
sorry to be so long winded cheers
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Post by Banjo on Aug 13, 2014 9:06:10 GMT 7
Amazing.
I occasionally point out to members that Centrelink is rarely deliberately vindictive but any organisation that size will have it's fair share of incompetents and work shy bludgers along with a departmental reluctance to share information.
Taken as a whole this works out to be far more annoying and damaging than one or two officers who have your name red-flagged in their little black book.
Maybe when Tony Abbott has finished with them and they only have about 50 people left the right hand will know what the left is doing.
It will just take about 5 years to get anything done.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2014 13:14:19 GMT 7
my experience is the Job networks are nastier and treat people worse then centrelink does. l have met some nice people who work at centrelink, but had some bad experiences with the job network people along with a lot of others who have had the misfortune of being forced to use their services
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Post by Banjo on Aug 13, 2014 13:15:47 GMT 7
Job networks have nasty down to a fine art.
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