Grady
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Grady is in his 50s and lives in community housing. He has a range of disabilities including physical and psychosocial disabilities.
In his submission Grady told us he considered himself at increased risk of COVID-19 because of his disabilities and illnesses. ‘I followed the advice of the authorities and self-isolated,’ he said.
He didn’t know how long he would need to be in isolation, so he ‘purchased additional food and medication’. But this left him unable to pay his rent.
Soon after falling behind in the rent he received a letter from his community housing provider that he ‘had breached the Residential Tenancy Agreement’.
Grady said he was shocked and disappointed by this letter. He expected the community housing provider to behave with more consideration during the pandemic. The provider ‘apparently ignored the commitment by government, and even its own policies to protect the accommodation of vulnerable people during this period of high risk’.
The threat of homelessness exacerbated Grady’s anxiety and his heart condition ‘requiring additional medication and visits to [the] doctor’.
His doctor was very supportive and Grady contacted a disability advocate and Legal Aid.
‘With representation, I was able to avoid eviction.’
In Grady’s opinion ‘the community housing provider breached their duty of care’ and put his physical and mental health at risk of harm. Unfortunately Grady’s problems with the housing provider have continued.
‘I feel that they continue to ignore their duty of care to me by not meeting their responsibilities to keep me safe, comfortable and provide me with well‐managed and maintained housing as required by law.’
Grady’s advocate continues to help him deal with the housing provider. In his opinion external measures are needed ‘to keep an eye on the behaviour of this community housing provider’.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.