HousingFirst, a major community housing provider in Victoria, is facing criticism for leaving apartments vacant and neglecting maintenance requests from tenants. The accusations highlight systemic issues within the social housing sector, raising concerns about affordability, accessibility, and resident well-being.
One of Victoria's largest community housing providers, HousingFirst, has been accused of leaving apartments empty for over a year and failing to address maintenance issues raised by tenants. The accusations stem from HousingFirst's takeover of Glenloch Homes, a charitable trust established in 1891 that provided independent living for 163 aged pensioners across six sites in Melbourne's south.
Pam Young, a resident of Glenloch Homes for 12 years and a member of the Glenloch Tenants Association Incorporated, alleges that at least 16 apartments have been left empty for over a year. She states that these apartments, despite being vacant, have been prepared with new carpets and paint, but remain unoccupied. Young also claims that when she requested to move from her studio apartment into one of the vacant one-bedroom units, she was denied, as HousingFirst only works with people on the Victorian Housing Register. The association's audit also revealed other concerns, including broken windows, missing floorboards, and dead possums left to rot. Brittany Jane, an advocate supporting a tenant in an Elwood HousingFirst building, reported a similar situation with broken windows, raw floorboards, missing skirting boards, and water damage. Jane claims that despite repeated requests, HousingFirst has been reluctant to address these issues, even after threatening legal action through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Vcat). HousingFirst, while acknowledging the challenges of managing a 2,000-dwelling portfolio, maintains that they are addressing the concerns and working towards ensuring all residents have safe and secure homes.
SOCIAL HOUSING VICTORIA HOUSINGFIRST TENANT RIGHTS MAINTENANCE ISSUES VACANT APARTMENTS
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