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MEDI HON ROBERT BROKENSHIRE MLC F |
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20,000 ON HOUSING SA WAITING LIST YET 1,872 HOMES UNOCCUPIED Tuesday 17 March 2009 Family First MLC the Hon
Robert Brokenshire MLC has expressed disbelief and dismay today at the
remarkable news that whilst Housing SA has waiting list of 20,000+, it also approximately
1,872 vacant properties. Of those 1,872 premises,
only 135 were awaiting repair, meaning that 1,737 were available for
some of those 20,000+ people to get into a home. “It frustrates me
and leaves me amazed that there can be such a huge waiting list, and yet such
a huge number of properties ready and available for tenants. It backs up what I’ve been told
anecdotally by constituents around the State that they can’t understand
why there’s such a big waiting list and yet there’s vacant premises
all over the place” “There’s 1
house for every 10 people on the waiting lists - is the Government paralysed
by indecision?” Family First research
data also revealed that 17,703 of the total 44,000 Housing SA property stock (40%)
were awaiting repairs as at 28 January 2009. “At a time when
you’ve got 17,703 properties with outstanding maintenance, this equates
to $6m of money required just to get the properties up to livable
standards.” “Its little wonder
tenants don’t want to pay their rent. Housing SA has $2.5m in rent arrears
which is also fascinating because private sector agencies that I have spoken
to – who manage social housing - have virtually no arrears.” “This data, as a
whole, reveals a Department in dysfunction and a Government bereft of policy.” “This
Government’s social apologist policy works against good South
Australian citizens who just want a fair go at accessing good public housing. Housing SA is paying the price of the
Government failing to deal properly with drug addicted tenants and people
that need specialist mental health care who were
never envisioned in the original concept of public housing”. |
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