Applying for Public Housing.

I previously baulked at applying for public housing for several reasons. A higher crime rate in areas where there is public housing in a city whose crime rate is already higher than that of New York City. And anti-social neighbors.

True enough these are generalizations but it is borne out of experience. I grew up in a public housing estate and having to contend with neighbors who throws loud parties and does not respect noise curfews. So many nights I have been kept awake by selfish neighbors throwing parties. Not to mention the array of other anti-social behaviors occurring on a regular basis in our street.

Then back in my previous apartment, there were public housing units at the back, and they were often noisy, with neighbors arguing, fighting, slamming doors, and screaming at the top of their voices.

Meanwhile neighbors in private rentals and who owned their own homes are generally better behaved. There has been exceptions over the years but generally speaking private housing tenants are generally better behaved. In my current neighborhood where there is no public housing, aside from the odd party, our neighbors are better behaved.

What changed my mind? Certain changes in my circumstances which I won't go into on this public blog but what my FB followers already know about. It is the case of the lesser of two evils. Furthermore being described by govt depts as an "older person", I am more likely to be allocated a flat or unit within complexes populated by those who have spent as much time or longer on this planet than me, and such tenants even in public housing are generally better behaved - we tend not to throw loud parties!!!!!

A main advantage of public housing is your rent is capped at 25% of your income or Centrelink benefits regardless of the amount. So whether on DSP or the much lower JobSearch Allowance, the cap on rent remains at 25%. I am currently paying 33% of my income for renting my room in a shared household where we share bathrooms, laundry, kitchen and other living spaces. Public housing means I will get my own flat or unit, no shared living arrangements aside from communal laundry if in a block of flats.

Applying for public housing? Rather convoluted even by govt dept standards!!!! You first make an enquiry and completing a form that is meant to guage your eligibility for public housing. We do have to meet certain criteria such as income limits and current living arrangements in order to qualify for public housing.

After completing the initial form, and assuming you meet qualifications, you are then sent (emailed) a whole load of other forms, albeit many of the fields are pre-filled based on information provided on the initial form.

Aside from the main application form for public housing, there is also the income statement. Fortunately for those of is on Centrelink we have a form where we give authority to the dept to retrieve our income statement from Centrelink, that is easier than having to retrieve such a statement ourselves. It is also easier when our income changes, such as, we manage to get onto DSP, which will mean an increase in the rent though still capped at 25%. Without giving authority to the dept, it be our responsibility to report any changes in income with penalties for failure to report.

Then there is the disability form which our GP or other medical professional completes. In my instance to guage my mental health issues, and basically prove via medical evidence that my current shared living arrangement is not good for my mental health and that I need my own space - an introversion thing even if introversion is not a mental health issue!!! But it manifests as anxiety disorders, depression, etc, which are mental health grounds for needing housing more friendly to our conditions.

And then the advocacy form, basically someone in your life who is supportive of your need for public housing. In my instance it is the owner of the shared house I am currently living who can see that I am not thriving in my current arrangement.

Oh yes, the certified copies of your credentials. Having to get the copies certified by a JP or your local pharmacist. Standard for accessing most govt related services.

So when all forms are finally completed, I headed for the nearest govt housing office, expecting to have to take a number and wait in a queue anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. But hopeful of not a too long of a wait given that at Centrelink I never had to wait more than 15 minutes even during the busiest periods. As it turned out, arriving early at the dept, despite requiring to "take a number", I was seen immediately - there were no one else in the office.

Once assessed and accepted, you are placed on a wait list which is currently about five years. Due to the incompetence of our govt and the planned-demic we are in a housing crisis. Private rental is almost impossible to come by, forcing many of us onto public housing, and with the shortage of public housing, we typically wait five years for an abode.

The lady looked through my forms and decided that I will need a priority housing form. For those of us judged as being particularly hard up, such as domestic violence victims, and those experiencing challenging mental health issues, as well as the homeless, we may be placed on the priority wait list where we are given priority for available housing stock. So the lady said she would send me out the priority housing form. This would mean the wait time reduces from five years to three years!!!!

So now just waiting on the forms being processed..... and for the priority housing form.......