The Big Red Button. Stopping the Nonsense!
I love the science fiction / fantasy genre. One of my goals for next year is to write a book on various plot and character aspects pertaining to fantasy, such as prophecy, enlightenment, the warrior instinct etc. I have strong Celtic roots so I have ordered DVDs on Celtic history and yesterday the first one landed on my desk: Celtic Warriors. It was one of those quirks of timing that are utterly priceless.
I like to keep my personal life out of my work life. Those of you who have read my bio know I am not a hobby blogger, I am an experienced, qualified writing coach and this is work… work I love! So few of you realise that I am a paraplegic: thus the migraines which you have read about. I am very independent. I have my own home, I drive, I teach three hour classes locally and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to move through life with as little assistance as possible. The biggest need I have is wheelchair accessible housing, which I am now in. That housing is now in jeopardy.
As my husband came out of retirement in January this year to go back to work to pay our increasing medical bills (you should see how much my pain killers cost); we are now over the income limit for assisted housing. That’s been fine as I have a disability and the Government authorities recognise I can’t just rent anywhere as I need a special bathroom, kitchen, wider doors etc. However, last Wednesday we received a letter telling us to move out by March 22nd. Why? Because a computer did a database sweep based solely on numbers. No human saw that letter. No one checked my file and said, “oh yes, Cate has an exemption on disability grounds” and saved us the stress of having to lodge appeals; prove I have a disability and sit on tender hooks wondering if the recent Government change has led to policy changes that will see us evicted.
To make me even madder, it has just taken us the best part of a year to get known drug dealers evicted from one of the units in the block we live in. They were offered assistance, social workers interviews and everything was done to keep the roof over their heads: even though we had police running around our premises several times with guns drawn, and small children in the area. We got a letter. No assistance. I rang the Department. They want me to fill in paperwork. They will not tell me what current disability policy is. They will not send an advocate to help. They were downright rude.
Thank God I am a social worker and I am trained how to fight these things. This has happened before and the solution was a letter with proof of disability. It’s already sent. Our local Member of Parliament has already been on the Landlord’s back. That helped. A full letter of complaint has been sent to the Minister of Housing, that will help. Chances are, we can stay. But unless they change their policy and ensure that all letters asking tenants to leave premises: no matter what the cause, are given proper reviews by people, this will happen to us again next year and the next until my husband ceases work. You know what? This would also happen to elderly people who have lived in their places for years and who have had a change of circumstances. They too would get letters like this and be thrown out with no assistance, regardless of health etc., and they may not have the ability to fight back. We want this policy changed, so we’re going to the Human Rights Commission and we’re going to raise hell.
This all takes time; plus the stress has sent my migraine pain sky high. I have been in bed all weekend on very heavy painkillers and I am exhausted. So I am taking the next two weeks off. I am pressing the big red stop button to save my energy for the fight. An Award will come out tomorrow and three posts are scheduled for next week, but I won’t be able to moderate comments and won’t be on any social media unless I feel like it. I want to work on my website and do a few things, but I need space, quiet and not to be on a schedule. I am stressed out of my tree. A special apology to my Triberr tribe, When I can, I will log in and pass on your posts, but I can’t make promises. I have just slept 18 hours and need to go back to bed!
If you feel a little cross about the fact that computers can be allowed to evict people automatically, please feel free to tell my Landlord just how you feel. Here is their email address: ICCHousingEnquiries@smartservice.qld.gov.au and here is their website: http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/housing/housing-services I would appreciate the support a great deal.
Take care of yourselves everyone. I hope to be back with really good news.
Filed under: Personal Post
