Norwood boarding house goes, residents in limbo

Aaron Coultate

19May08

THE closure of a Norwood boarding house could force marginalised, mentally ill and dependent people to live on the street, the industry's peak body says. 

Osmond House, which has been based in Norwood for the past decade, will close at the end of June, taking with it 19 beds.

More than 400 beds at privately run boarding houses  also known as supported residential facilities (SRFs)  have closed since 2000.

SRF Association president Shaunee Fox said the future of residents was ``in limbo'' with Osmond House the ``last port of call for people with highly complex needs, short of homelessness''.

``It was the only boarding house that looked after these kind of people,'' Ms Fox said.

``I know a lot of them are scared they will end up back on the street. Even if other boarding houses do take them in, chances are it won't be long term.''

Osmond House, located on Osmond Tce, is being sold and expected to be turned into townhouses.

Clifford House, which has 50 beds and has been located in Prospect for 40 years, may also close in the next year.

The Eastern Courier last week spoke to residents at both Osmond House and Clifford House about their fears of the boarding house closures.

Osmond House resident Daniel said it was a ``fact'' that some residents would end up on the streets.

``More people are going to end up homeless,'' he said.

Ethel, who lives at Clifford House, said: ``I have been here for 27 years, where can I go?'' Fellow Clifford House resident David insisted the closure ``won't happen''. ``(Owner) Karen is like my mum, she'll never dump me,'' he said.

Others were not so optimistic. ``Nobody gives a shit about us,'' said John. Betty, a Clifford House resident for six years, started crying at the thought of being moved out.

Osmond House owner Cathy Torchio said the offer to sell up was ``too good to refuse''. ``Considering what we have to put up with here, it's just not worth (staying),'' she said.

``The (Government subsidy of) $6 we get per person helps, it pays the bills, but only just.''


Ms Torchio and her partner plan to take over a similar boarding house in Mitcham, but can only take six Osmond House residents with them.

She said they had received one approach from a boarding house prepared to take the extra residents in, but she would not say where.

Clifford House owner Andrew Marshall said he was considering closing the boarding house within a year.

``We could make more (money) with five beds for people with physical disabilities than we do with 50 mental health patients,'' Mr Marshall said.

``Why should we continue? We've been asking for additional funding for years, it never comes.''

A Messenger Newspapers investigation revealed every other boarding house in the region was at capacity or on the verge of closing down.

The Kent Town Lodge is at its capacity of 45 and ``has been for some time'', according to the Families & Communities Department. The Carmel Court boarding house in Kensington Gardens is also full, with 24 residents.

Acting Housing and Disability Minister Gail Gago said the government was aware of the Osmond House closure and was working with residents to help relocate them. ``Osmond House is a private business and it is not the Government's role to replace it,'' Ms Gago said.

``We don't see SRFs as the only form of accommodation for people with disabilities, therefore we also will be investing in other models of supported housing.''