To start with...I had been in social housing for 16 continuous years, plus an additional nearly 8 years in the 1990's. My 16 years started in November 2008 when I was offered housing, after having been on category 1, and went through to January 2025. Initially a tenant of the South Australian Housing Trust (SAHT), management of properties in my area were taken over by Community Housing Limited (CHL) late 2010s. My 16 years have been trouble free and I always got along well with them.
In January 2025, I accepted a share house arrangement in Melbourne, as I had been wanting a change of scenery. I never wanted a share house, but still took it. This is the biggest mistake I ever made in my life. Not only did it mean leaving my beautiful 2020 built, 2 bedroom, 2 storey townhouse in Northfield, Adelaide, but the arrangement in Melbourne quickly did not work out.
Initially my leaving the share house was amicable, but it turned sour. I never got my bond money back from him, and he never lodged it with the relevant bond authority. Actually, there were never anything formal, like a lease. It’s suspected he never intended to give the bond back, as after I enquired about getting it back when I leave, the next day he went on a violent outburst claiming things were missing as if to accuse me. There were absolutely no truth to this, and it was no doubt designed to get me out faster – it worked. Not finding anywhere else, and faced with being homeless, I returned to Adelaide, and had to share with my friend since I did not have my home to come back to.
Back in Adelaide, only 4 weeks after having left, I started trying to get back to Melbourne. Needing to inspect properties to be able to apply for them, I eventually (May 2025) found a business that does just that. I continued to use them through to earlier this year, probably having at least 80 properties looked at. All this time also still trying to get my money back from the share house situation – I still have not got a cent back. I also have made contact with many groups and organisations seeking assistance, with little to no help.
Through all this I have been sharing with my friend of at least 20 years, which I will always be grateful for, however it is not a good situation for me. This was only ever meant to be a temporary arrangement. There’s no room for me here, and most of my belongings are outside under the verandah. I am very independent, and extremely used to living in my own house, with my own furniture, doing things my own way, in my own time, and having the freedom to come and go. I really miss my independence, and we clash constantly due to my frustrations. This is not a healthy environment for either of us, and I am unhappy and miserable.
All of this combined has made for a very stressful 1.5 years.
The cost...I have lost nearly everything through all this. Financially I’m out thousands:
$1646 Bond
$1646 Rent in advance
$540 Airfares to Melbourne and back
$1195 Belongings sent there and back
$7500 (approx) Getting houses inspected
Then there’s the loss of a houseful of furniture and belongings with an approx. value of around $21,000, and that does not include the roughly 2,500 records I had, which I had been collecting for at least 40 years. I had to sell most items for well below their value.
The biggest loss of all though, has been my 2020 built 2 bedroom, 2 storey townhouse on Mostyn Avenue, Northfield in Adelaide, which I absolutely loved. When I moved in December 2020, I was the first person in it, and I had intended it to be my last move. Leaving is my biggest regret in the world. Ironically, had the now known to be dodgy share house offer not come up, I likely would still be living there, as I was ever so close to cancelling any plans to move, and simply staying put.
The impact….The almost never ending stress of the past year and a half has taken a toll on my health. It has been mentally and emotionally exhausting, finally culminating in my suffering a TIA (mini-stroke) recently. Tests (CT and MRI scans) showed I have a narrowing in a critical part of the brain - a big surprise to me, as my blood tests would not have indicated I was in danger of this happening.
I am thoroughly convinced that the prolonged high levels of stress has played a significant role in my mini-stroke.
This has forced me to put my health first, and I need to address my housing situation as a top priority, and deal with my stress levels now. Unfortunately, this is where I come to my troubles with CHL, and instead of alleviating the stress, I am more stressed than ever.
I contacted CHL about getting housing, more to the point, getting back into my beautiful home in Northfield. Instead, I am being treated like as if I'm a new customer, and have to start the process all over again from scratch. This to me is unacceptable. It is not taking into account my long term and trouble-free tenancy with social housing.
At nearly 52 years old, and on a Disability Support Pension (DSP), I am hardly in a position to get private rental, which continues to get further out of reach, and is unstable. I will never be able to buy my own home, and landlords aren't falling over themselves to rent to a person on a DSP. The recent changes to rental applications in South Australia (and also now Victoria) has not made applying any easier either. I want stable, long-term accommodation. I can't keep moving.
The resolution…all I am asking for is for my tenancy to be reinstated, and for me to get back to my house at Northfield. I would like CHL to reconsider, as I believe they are making this harder than it needs to be. Yes, I will consider an equivalent new/newer 2 bedroom townhouse.
I will not be made guilty for trying to take control of my well being, and looking after myself. It is not my fault the system is inflexible for situations like mine where housing arrangements break down, and are failing to acknowledge my long term tenancy with social housing, which I point out again was trouble free.
They should be grateful I want to go back, as the area is a little sketchy (next door, across the road), but the house is safe and secure, and I did not feel in any danger. I have always defended social housing when I see articles attacking it, making out everyone in it are undesirables, as most aren’t. However, I have to admit, there is some truth in it. I suspect if I were a junkie, caused nothing but trouble for the whole neighbourhood, or trashed my housing I would get better treatment
I would still love to live in Melbourne, however, my mini-stroke has made sorting my housing out more urgent, and it needs to be permanent. I have no history with HomesVictoria, but a total history of almost 24 years of social housing here in South Australia. I figured I had a much better chance here, and I can go back to how it was before, where I visited Melbourne every few months.
The property at Mostyn Avenue is more than just a house, it’s my pride and joy, my sanctuary...it’s home. I am lost without it, and I just want to go home.
Getting my house back has become my sole goal in life now, as it’s all I have to keep me going. Going home, will give my life meaning again. It will help me to manage my stress, and hopefully not have another TIA, or worse, a full blown stroke.
I hope that people out there can help me with this by putting pressure on them, as I can not do this alone. On the website you will find contact details that you can use right now to show your support. Please keep any communications civil, as abuse won’t help me. If you do show your support, I thank you so much. You deserve a medal if you read this far.
Of course if you’re rich, you could always buy me a house in Adelaide or Melbourne....just kidding!!😁