A GIFT received by a Fremantle woman who thought it would be her ticket out of social housing has instead left her traumatised and facing the prospect of not having a roof over her head. 

After being gifted funds by a family member to purchase an off-the-plan sustainable housing unit, Jade (not her real name) has faced several roadblocks holding up the completion of her build. 

The property was part of a local community housing development that has since been deregistered. 

To double her pain, Jade then received an eviction notice from Homeswest telling her to move out of her social housing unit. 

After being forced to seek refuge in temporary accommodation above her financial means, Jade has ended up squatting in her unfinished unit. 

Transition support

Jade said she was not provided with support to transition out of her unit into private living, and believes she’s not the only one who has experienced this. 

A solicitor from the Street Law Centre, which provides legal advice for people at risk of homeless, confirmed they’d had other clients who had experienced situations similar to Jade. 

After receiving her eviction notice by post, Jade underwent a drawn-out eligibility assessment. 

“I didn’t know what was happening to me,” she said.

She was deemed ineligible to continue her lease while the build was taking place. 

“I wish someone had just said that to me, I would have been a lot more careful had I realised.”

Jade said that had she known she would be deemed ineligible for housing as soon as the purchase was made, she would have put the money into something ready to move into to avoid the “horrible drawn-out process”. 

After doing her own research to find out why she was being evicted, the only document she found was the 2014 Tenancy Act, which stated that social housing applicants must not own or be part owner of property or land. 

At the time, Jade was unsure if this applied to her situation as an existing resident. 

A Department of Communities spokesperson wouldn’t comment on Jade’s case, but confirmed the department’s policy.

“When a social housing tenant purchases their own home or has significant assets, it alters their eligibility for housing support,” they said.

Jade has now had to move into her unfinished unit without adequate heating, air conditioning, and flooring, amongst plumbing and electrical problems. 

Having lived in social housing for 24 years and being gifted property by a family member, Jade was shocked by the ongoing costs associated with the new property and the completion of the build. 

Jade said the developers of her build knew her social housing background and led her to believe she would be supported throughout the process. 

While most costs were outlined in the contract, this was her first experience purchasing property, and she was not aware of how thoroughly she should read through this document. 

Jade said she felt the discussions she’d had with the developer about costs prior to this were misleading.

by HOLLY NEWTON