Friends,

I am writing to update you on the status of the men and of our campaign to retain the boarding houses.

We are down to 4 men, all now living in 1 of the 4 boarding houses. The rest of the men have been found new places to live. 3 of the 4 boarding houses are now completely empty.

Ray K, Brian, Jeff and Jesse remain, and we continue to work with the services, and separately, to urgently find new homes. Finding safe and affordable accommodation in the city continues to be significant challenge. Again, you cannot believe what is out there. It is absolutely shocking.

Over the last months the men have had to say goodbye to their mates as each has left, and the truth is that some are unlikely to see each-other again. It has been devastating to watch. Within the next few weeks, Ray, Brian, Jeff and Jesse will be gone also.

While the men may be gone, they have not been forgotten. Social isolation is a killer for vulnerable people, particularly for those who have lived communally for decades. So, we are staying in touch with the men (weekly by phone and/or in-person, and as needs) to make sure they stay connected to, and supported by, their old community. We help them with things that need doing and we take them to see one-another when they can. Maintaining those life-long connections is critical to their health and well-being. Our commitment to our mates doesn’t end when they leave.

At this stage they are doing as well as they can be.

The fight to keep the boarding houses as low cost and affordable housing is not over and we continue to lobby politicians and to work towards the Land and Environment Court hearing in early May. LFD Homes' appeal against the Council’s decision will be heard at that time and our community is making oral submissions to the Court as part of the Council’s defence.

We are meeting next week with our State Member – Alex Greenwich to discuss tabling and debating our petition in State Parliament. This is another step towards getting the main housing policy changed.

You will have also seen a letter from Sydney’s Mayor – Clover Moore, talking about the efforts of the Council to support the men.

Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the ABC, the Sydney Morning Herald, Channel 10’s The Project, the Paddo Papers and the South Sydney Herald for their ongoing and powerful coverage of the story. We will continue to tell the story of the men, as we fight to retain these and other forms of affordable and safe homes for the most vulnerable in our society.

This has to stop.

Thank you for your incredible support of the men.

Please share this update if you can.

Best wishes,

Mike