A homeless man was allegedly told he could not stay at the Wagga Gardens Motel. Photo: allonville-gardens-motel.newsouthwaleshotels.net.
A NSW Government authority is investigating allegations that a Wagga accommodation provider refused to let a homeless man stay at its hotel after he was placed there through an emergency housing program.
Wagga City Council handed homeless campers at Wilks Park notices last month telling them they must vacate the area by Tuesday (7 July). As part of the process, Homes NSW has been helping them find alternative accommodation, including temporary stays in local hotels and motels.
Housing advocates Chris Roche and Vicki Burkinshaw told Region that Homes NSW arranged for a camper to check into the Wagga Gardens Motel (formerly the Allonville Motel) in Gumly Gumly at 8:30 pm on Friday (3 July).
A volunteer assisting the homeless man filmed a motel staff member telling him he had to leave, despite arriving with all of his belongings.
“We don’t allow this much — this is not meant for bikes and everything,” the staff member says in the video.
The footage shows the man collecting his bags and leaving, while the staff member apologises and says he has to go.
Region has viewed video of the incident, some of which was published by 7News Riverina.
We contacted the Wagga Gardens Motel to ask why the man was not allowed to stay. A staff member said no manager was available to discuss the incident and referred questions to Homes NSW.
“Reports of a man being kicked out of Temporary Accommodation (TA) are deeply concerning, and Homes NSW is investigating the incident,” a department spokesperson said.
“It is not a crime to be homeless, and our focus is on ensuring the person involved has access to temporary accommodation in Wagga Wagga.”
Former ABC journalist Moyra Shields joins a homeless woman outside MP Dr Joe McGirr’s office to protest against the imminent removal of campers from Wilks Park. Photo: Supplied.
Homes NSW has also indicated it will terminate its contract with any accommodation provider found to be discriminating against people at risk of homelessness.
Region also contacted the Wagga Gardens Motel through its website seeking comment, but had not received a response at the time of publication.
In an email sent to Homes NSW and Wagga MP Dr Joe McGirr, Mr Roche said the incident suggested some accommodation providers were reluctant to accept homeless people, making it unfair to evict campers from Wilks Park without guaranteed alternative housing.
“If council evicts these homeless people without a place to go, all that will happen is a new camp will be set up elsewhere, not an appropriate resolution,” Mr Roche wrote.
Wagga Council has said Homes NSW initiated the move to evict people from Wilks Park. However, Homes NSW has denied this, saying it does not have the authority to direct the council to carry out the evictions.
Homeless people have been camping at Wilks Park for several years. Photo: Chris Roe.
Advocates have helped campers prepare a notice of objection challenging the council’s legal authority to remove them from the site. The document also criticises the council’s management plan and argues suitable alternative accommodation has not been provided.
Ms Burkinshaw said the alleged incident showed the plan to move homeless people into hotels was always going to fall short.
“The government might pay for a hotel for a week, but not six months. Where do people go then?” she said.
