A Warrawong resident is furious over the alleged “lack of action” by Housing NSW in dealing with anti-social behaviour and putrid smells from a nearby property.
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Candice Staff, 36, lives in public housing in Warrawong with her partner and three children.
Ms Staff said she had been living in her current house for nearly five years.
“Most people that end up in my house end up moving and just can’t deal with it,” she said.
“But I’m at the point where I don’t think I should have to move and uproot my children’s lives.
“I don’t think anyone should have to live like this.”
She claimed residents of a social housing property nearby were “living in filth”, and as a result she had to regularly pay for pest control due to the vermin the mess attracted.
She said even when the nearby yard was cleaned, it quickly degenerated into filth again.
“You can see rats on the lawn… You look outside of a night and put a spotlight on their yard, and it’s alive, crawling with rats and vermin,” she said.
“It’s quite toxic when they’re burning babies’ nappies and household filth… It was like living near a tip.’’
She alleged the street was rife with anti-social behaviour.
Ms Staff said she has reported incidents to police, and had regularly complained to Housing NSW.
“At what point do Housing decide what’s safe and what’s not safe?” she said.
“You can let them know, but all I’ve been told is we’ve got channels that we’ve got to go through to sort it out.”
A Family and Community Services spokesperson said FACS is aware of the complaints made in relation to anti-social behaviour at a property in Warrawong.
“FACS attempted to visit the property in late July but were unable to gain access,” the spokesperson said.
The FACS spokesperson said the NSW Civil Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) has scheduled a hearing with FACS staff in mid-September to determine access entitlements to a public housing property in Warrawong, and complete a client service visit.
“The tenants of the property failed to attend a scheduled meeting to address complaints of anti-social behaviour in mid-August,” the spokesperson said.
“FACS is issuing a warning letter to tenants and staff will continue to attempt to make contact.
“FACS has contacted NSW Police to attempt to verify complaints against these tenants.”
Members of the public are urged to report any anti-social behaviour to police, Crimestoppers and the Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322.