Friends,
On Monday we received word that the Developer (LFD Homes) served 30 notices of eviction to our neighbours. They have been given until February 1 to find new homes.
Although the potential of the impending closure was known, this has come as hammer blow to the men, many of whom are simply unable to handle the news and what it means for their futures.
This eviction is an act of pure callousness by a cowardly developer hiding behind the skirts of planning laws with so many gaps you could drive a bus through them. There are no protections for boarding house residents. None. LFD Homes has taken advantage of that just to try to earn a few bucks at the expense of 30 people's lives.
What LFD Homes has done may be legal. What LFD Homes has done is absolutely immoral.
The State Government chooses to allow this to happen by not changing the policy. They can. It's little more than the stroke of a pen. It's a choice. They choose a rich developer over 30 of their most vulnerable citizens. They have turned their backs. When the time comes, we will turn our backs on them.
We have organised for outreach services to be onsite to give the men whatever support each needs. That includes health, re-housing (Plan B if needed) and legal support.
Our fight is very far from over.
- Through the lawyers, we are seeking to apply an injunction against the closure of the boarding houses and our neighbours' evictions. We have other legal challenges planned to run alongside the injunction.
- Our State Member - Alex Greenwich is lobbying the State Ministers hard to directly intervene to stop the closure by applying an immediate moratorium through the State housing policy. He is also lobbying for the State to step in to negotiate with the developer and buy them out - either alone or in partnership with the City of Sydney.
- We continue to directly lobby the City of Sydney to buy the developer out.
- We are working through our media contacts to cover the story.
I have talked with social housing providers and they have told me, point blank, that there is no safe housing available in the entire Greater Sydney. What is available is vacant for a reason. It is not safe. What is available is no place for any of the men. On February 1, they will be on the street. The street will be the safest option.
State and Local Government must step in and stop this. We are working hard to make that happen.
Our team captured some footage on the day the eviction notices were served. These are just 2 of 30 of our mates. It can be found here:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AnjdshtgoGEMoyHcFcYsk1uv2Lh9?e=M8nUkV
Again, thank you for your great support. Our neighbours deeply appreciate it and anything else you can do to help them stay in their homes.
Best wishes,
Mike