26 August 2012

Emergency Youth Accomodation in Chisholm

| gusash
Join the conversation
25

Hello. My name is Angus. I currently live in emergency youth accommodation in Canberra. Basically, a youth refuge. I am a normal person, I wake up in the morning, I eat breakfast I go to school. I catch 3 buses to the other side of Canberra, but I still make the effort. My father died when I was 7, and my mother and I have irreconcilable differences over her use of drugs. 6 months ago I found myself homeless and couch surfing amongst friends. A month later when I thought I was settled in with friends, another dart came my way and I landed in a refuge. I am still making an effort to better myself as a person. And so are the people I live with. They either go to school, or they’re out looking for a job, trying to get somewhere. We are normal people.

As normal people, we have feelings. I just want to say that I am personally disgusted with the attitude of the Chisholm community towards the future refuge in the suburb. Your ignorant, biased views are an embarrassment to Australia and its accepting attitudes. A few nearby houses occupied by homeless youth won’t give you any less sugar in your morning coffee. A few nearby houses occupied by homeless youth won’t interrupt your drive to the office. A few nearby houses occupied by homeless youth, won’t impact on your uneducated, unempathic way of life. The people who’ll live in this refuge, will be young people who’ve been through a hard time, a deserve some understanding. Trust me.

Open your mind. We are people too. We’ve come from a bad home life but that does not make us bad people. Give us a chance. We don’t exist to make your life difficult. Seriously, get over yourselves – we’ve got much better things to do.

Join the conversation

25
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

NOW COME HELP ME GET RID OF THIS BLIGHT ON DUFFY

I think something has been lost in translation… I thought it was “this blight of Duffy”?

Angus good on you mate. I couldn’t care LESS if a youth refuge turned up on my street. It means nothing.

We’ve got a few housos on our street and I’ve never noticed them coming and going. Right next door, on the other hand, is a batsh*t crazy very affluent retired couple who police the whole street and cause everyone more grief than the whole rest of the street combined.

Good and bad in every bunch.

Pull your heads out Chisholm.

zig said :

So why isn’t this refuge being built in Yarralumla, Deakin, Curtin? Plenty of unoccupied land around those parts that needs “urban infilling”. Plus the area is certainly more central than Chisholm is. I don’t live in Chisholm but still wonder why it is being built out that way.

Maybe because there already is one in at least one of the above suburbs, and has been for over twenty years.

And going on the crime figures the area in which it is located shows no spike in crime.

If anything that area seems to be rather lower than some other areas.

longshanks said :

So, on the one hand you have the attitude expressed by Miz: “I will fight tooth and nail, under the banner of ‘due process’, to prevent others from having access to the taxpayer funded services I currently enjoy.”

And then you have Angus above, who cuts through the crap, and reminds us that homeless youth are first and foremost people, not problems.

Perfect. Good luck to Angus.

Miz and Angus – one has a home, the other is a decent human being.

zig said :

So why isn’t this refuge being built in Yarralumla, Deakin, Curtin? Plenty of unoccupied land around those parts that needs “urban infilling”. Plus the area is certainly more central than Chisholm is. I don’t live in Chisholm but still wonder why it is being built out that way.

Nothing is being ‘built’. The stuff in Chisholm is happening with three existing Government owned houses.

zig said :

So why isn’t this refuge being built in Yarralumla, Deakin, Curtin? Plenty of unoccupied land around those parts that needs “urban infilling”. Plus the area is certainly more central than Chisholm is. I don’t live in Chisholm but still wonder why it is being built out that way.

Possibly to make it harder for the people beeing housed to get into the city, and all the temptations therein.

So why isn’t this refuge being built in Yarralumla, Deakin, Curtin? Plenty of unoccupied land around those parts that needs “urban infilling”. Plus the area is certainly more central than Chisholm is. I don’t live in Chisholm but still wonder why it is being built out that way.

Good on ya Angus for speaking up from the other side of the fence. Most of the complainants probably don’t realise that it’s their own teenage children running rampant, committing crimes and lowering house values. Personally, I hope you don’t end up needing to live in the Chisholm refuge. I couldn’t think of a worse area to be in for someone who is genuinely trying to better themselves. All that negative energy isn’t going to any good for anyone.

Echoing the sentiments of other posters, Gusash- you clearly have the capacity to achieve a great deal in life. You have articulated your position eloquently and logically. Respect.

A difficult childhood is never ideal, but take it from me, it can also be a gift. Long after the sadness subsides, you will have a compassion and gratitude that many never have, and those two things are the keys to happiness. Forget the haters, just don’t forget to cherish those who help and care. Good luck

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd5:35 pm 27 Aug 12

WTF TELL ME WHERE THE DUFFY REFUGE IS I LIVE IN DUFFY AND REFUSE TO HAVE MY PROPERTY VALUE SO LOW AND CRIME RATES SO HIGH MIZ I FEEL YOUR PAIN NOW COME HELP ME GET RID OF THIS BLIGHT ON DUFFY

I don’t think the refuge will lower house prices at all. A friend of mine used to live in a refuge in duffy, it was just a normal house except with locks on the bedroom doors. It wasn’t some dump with people in and out all day and night having parties on the street.

buzz819 said :

While I understand your side of the story, YOU have to understand why the residence are getting upset.

They have worked hard to pay off a bank loan on their house and expect that it will increase in value. Unfortunately as soon as a refuge is put in the picture it lowers the house prices, because people don’t want to live in the area, causing current house owners to lose money.

It is not about common sense or decency, it is about mainly about money. You talk to the people who live near Marlow cottage, I can guarantee you that they are not happy that it sprung up near where they live.

While I understand your plight etc. You also have to understand that the people who have purchased their property should have a say in whether this type of refuge should go ahead in their street.

So you’re suggesting that you want to evaluate every person that buys a new house in your street and if you don’t like them, have a right of veto? Get real.

Realistically Housing does not need to consult anyone when they place a tenant. If they’ve let you know, they’ve already gone above and beyond. It sounds like they residence will be supervised 24/7, so it is unlikely to cause you any problems.

Canberra seriously needs to get over the NIMBY whinging baby thing.

It is a shame the ACT Gov couldn’t have sat down with the residents in the area (from day one in the process) and provided this same info.

As an aisde – will the wrecked cars currently littering the gov houses in question be removed when the new tennants arrive? That would be nice.

Thank you for sharing your story with us Angus. You are an inspiration, and putting a real person into the ‘other side’ of this story is such an important thing.

I have had several teens living with me in foster-like situations over the years, sometimes for years at abtime, and you are so right, homeless teens are just people, like everyone else.

I wish you many good things Angus, not least of which is a stable roof over your head.

So, on the one hand you have the attitude expressed by Miz: “I will fight tooth and nail, under the banner of ‘due process’, to prevent others from having access to the taxpayer funded services I currently enjoy.”

And then you have Angus above, who cuts through the crap, and reminds us that homeless youth are first and foremost people, not problems.

Miz and Angus – one has a home, the other is a decent human being.

Well done Angus

Angus, although I don’t know you Im so proud of you!

Anyone could be dealt bad cards in childhood that can impact their adult lives, including the people trying to stop youth refuges in their street, they were just lucky to have not experienced a childhood that put them at a disadvantage Some people are so blind and narrow minded, their own children have support and love from their parents, family and community, but they want to deny the same to kids who need the most support.

My elderly Mum who recently passed away was abandoned and put in an orphanage as a child, she was quite naughty as a result. Institutionalisation and stigma made her naughtier, other members of her family ended up bringing her up and her new community were kind and understanding of her situation, she said when she started to feel loved, accepted and secure in her new world her naughty ‘survival tactics’ subsided.

‘It takes a community to rear a child’ rings so true, I wonder if children of people in the Chisholm community would have some undesirable behaviours if they were stigmatised and rejected by thier community?

Angus, you are not just a ‘normal’ person; you write beautifully and express clearly why resources such as that being opened in Chisholm are so important.

God bless you and good luck with your future studies.

LumpySpacePrincess11:36 am 27 Aug 12

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Holden Caulfield said :

buzz819 said :

While I understand your side of the story, YOU have to understand why the residence are getting upset.

They have worked hard to pay off a bank loan on their house and expect that it will increase in value. Unfortunately as soon as a refuge is put in the picture it lowers the house prices, because people don’t want to live in the area, causing current house owners to lose money.

Except isn’t half of this suburban utopia already owned by ACT Housing?

Exactly, its a single house on the street thaqt is privatly owned, and they were tenants who bought the house off the government for dirt cheap in that weird program they were running.
It has nothing to do with money, its scumbag filthy swines who have been hel[ped themselves by the government but for some twisted reason seem to think that homeless youth are below them and should just rot.

Angus, thank you for your input. Id rather be your neighbour than smebody like miz.

Exactly, this proud home owner may never have owned a house without gov housing support, even if they did, it would have been a lot harder.

Gusash, try not to let the haters get to you. I too had assistance from government housing when I was a teenager. I wasn’t lazy, stupid or a trouble maker. I’ve since gone on to get an education and a decent job. I pay my way without government support. But if I didn’t have that help when I needed it, who knows what I might have become?

Keep on working towards your future. You sound very determined and intelligent so I’m sure you’ll succeed. It’s unfortunate that the minority of closed minded people often speak louder than the rest but there are many who respect people in your current position and understand.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd9:41 am 27 Aug 12

Holden Caulfield said :

buzz819 said :

While I understand your side of the story, YOU have to understand why the residence are getting upset.

They have worked hard to pay off a bank loan on their house and expect that it will increase in value. Unfortunately as soon as a refuge is put in the picture it lowers the house prices, because people don’t want to live in the area, causing current house owners to lose money.

Except isn’t half of this suburban utopia already owned by ACT Housing?

Exactly, its a single house on the street thaqt is privatly owned, and they were tenants who bought the house off the government for dirt cheap in that weird program they were running.
It has nothing to do with money, its scumbag filthy swines who have been hel[ped themselves by the government but for some twisted reason seem to think that homeless youth are below them and should just rot.

Angus, thank you for your input. Id rather be your neighbour than smebody like miz.

Holden Caulfield9:30 am 27 Aug 12

buzz819 said :

While I understand your side of the story, YOU have to understand why the residence are getting upset.

They have worked hard to pay off a bank loan on their house and expect that it will increase in value. Unfortunately as soon as a refuge is put in the picture it lowers the house prices, because people don’t want to live in the area, causing current house owners to lose money.

Except isn’t half of this suburban utopia already owned by ACT Housing?

buzz819 said :

While I understand your side of the story, YOU have to understand why the residence are getting upset.

They have worked hard to pay off a bank loan on their house and expect that it will increase in value. Unfortunately as soon as a refuge is put in the picture it lowers the house prices, because people don’t want to live in the area, causing current house owners to lose money.

It is not about common sense or decency, it is about mainly about money. You talk to the people who live near Marlow cottage, I can guarantee you that they are not happy that it sprung up near where they live.

While I understand your plight etc. You also have to understand that the people who have purchased their property should have a say in whether this type of refuge should go ahead in their street.

For those that tl:dr the above, a summation.

People are too wrapped up in themselves and their money to care what happens to anyone else.

So, buzz819, what’s your suggestion? House them in industrial estates? Perhaps somewhere out past the suburban fringe?

Angus, well said, I wish you the very best for your future.
Please don’t move to Chisholm if given the opportunity, anyone who moves into this area will not be given a chance.

While I understand your side of the story, YOU have to understand why the residence are getting upset.

They have worked hard to pay off a bank loan on their house and expect that it will increase in value. Unfortunately as soon as a refuge is put in the picture it lowers the house prices, because people don’t want to live in the area, causing current house owners to lose money.

It is not about common sense or decency, it is about mainly about money. You talk to the people who live near Marlow cottage, I can guarantee you that they are not happy that it sprung up near where they live.

While I understand your plight etc. You also have to understand that the people who have purchased their property should have a say in whether this type of refuge should go ahead in their street.

Wow. Well said, gusash. If only those residents of Chisholm were as articulate as you, we’d be living in a kinder, fairer city.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.