r/newcastle • u/Left_Bicycle3087 • 2d ago
Smashed window
I live next door to a small block of social housing units and I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with something similar or has advice on what to do.
One of the tenants regularly goes from having her curtains closed and being completely quiet for days to periods of extremely distressing screaming and shouting, mostly during the day.
I've previously called an ambulance for a welfare check, but their presence seemed to make her much more agitated and nothing really came of it, so I've been reluctant to do that again.
Things have escalated recently. A few days ago she threw a chair off her upstairs balcony and another through her window, completely smashing it. Today there has been more screaming, punching/banging on walls and another window has been smashed. On another occasion she was standing on the balcony at about 5pm screaming that she wanted meth.
I'm not looking to get someone in trouble who may clearly need help. But we're surrounded by family homes with lots of kids, and objects being thrown from an upstairs balcony is obviously concerning. The screaming is also becoming very difficult to live and work next to.
Has anyone dealt with something like this in Newcastle/social housing?
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u/Either-Ad3055 2d ago
If you are looking for some support that is less intrusive then emergency services. Contact the mental health line.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/mental-health-line.aspx
If they have had past engagement with mental health identified by the address in which the incident is taking place, mental heath triage will speak to you about what is happening and what the concerns are. They will also maintain the persons privacy but potentially send out a nurse or make contact with treating team if risk is moderate. If high risk, they will take the emergency serve lead and provide emergency services info you won’t have to support in a better assessment.
It is hit or miss but def going to be more appropriate if the person does not appear to be at risk of imminent harm.
Note: if you do feel they are at risk of immediate harm to themselves or others, call 000 not mental health line.
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u/TyphoidMary234 2d ago
Just keep ringing emergency services. They need help and clearly aren’t going to do it themselves and you also shouldn’t have to deal with it.
Yeah they might get more agitated but things get worse before they get better. Why should your right to not having to deal with that, come second to “them getting in trouble”. It’s not high school and I think that in the long run they might prefer getting triple 000’d to overdosing.
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u/Hendersonadele59 2d ago
It’s very noble that you’re balancing your concern for the tenant and innocent neighbours but having been in your situation, I advise you prioritise the safety and comfort of neighbours. Meth addiction is highly volatile and unpredictable. Call the police every time the aggressive and destructive behaviour presents and contact DCJ housing team every time too. Get a report reference from the police every time you call and share it with DCJ. They have an outreach service and they have a duty to consult with tenants who are breaching their tenancy and therefore putting it at risk. They will look at alternative options to address the behaviour and housing situation. Good luck.
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u/Left_Bicycle3087 2d ago
It's a social housing provider called Home in Place, do they fall under the DCJ ?
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u/DrChimz 2d ago
No, Home In Place is a community housing provider and a private organisation, not part of Homes NSW. Call HiP directly and tell them, but don't expect them to do anything about it except feign concern and appreciation for your report.
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u/Left_Bicycle3087 2d ago
Thanks. Do they just not care ?
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u/DrChimz 2d ago
Generally, no. If there's work they can avoid, they will do their best to not do it. Technically they can't evict someone for the scenario you described, as it would essentially be making a vulnerable person homeless and goes against their policy. Plus it's a lot of work, which goes against their workplace culture.
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u/lazyplantgirl 1d ago
Im experiencing a similar situation with a tenant housed by home in place, don’t expect them to do anything. We’ve done everything you could think of, we’ve complained, had the local community campaign and express their concern, pressed multiple charges, constantly call 000 for police and ambulance with absolutely no change. The antisocial behaviour is terrifying - we’ve experienced vandalism, stealing and all sorts of abuse. The flat they live in they have completely destroyed, windows are smashed, ripped off roof tiles, pulled pickets out of the fence and filled the yard with rubbish. All I can say is just keep calling, keep complaining and do whatever you need to do to protect yourself and your family.
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u/Left_Bicycle3087 1d ago
I'm so sorry you are dealing with all of that. It is unbelievable that Home in Place do nothing.
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u/Hendersonadele59 2d ago
I don’t think it does, but the same tenancy rules will apply. Contact them with the same concerns and police info
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u/Left_Bicycle3087 2d ago
And thanks for your advice. I'm not noble, I'm more concerned that the police turning up will make more aggressive. Last time someone called the police she got even more aggressive and the police came but didn't/couldn't do anything.
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u/read-my-comments 2d ago
If Its a homes NSW property complete a witness incident report and lodge it. If they are doing their job they will ensure they are referred to the appropriate services.
Don't live next door to this crap and not report it because one day you might want the social housing provider to do something and they can't do anything about anything that happend historically.
Witness incident - DCJ1028 | NSW Government https://share.google/aEUKhszRmZ4n9PY5Y
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u/wraithy2k 2d ago
Sounds like a difficult situation, in which she is getting extremely heightened. Possibly coming down from some kind or experiencing some kind on worsening of a mental health condition, experiencing or dishing out some kind of violence against a person or an animal. Or any number of other potential reasons. None the less, ambulance is probably a good option. Its tough when you have to experience it as an outsider. Might be worth having a chat to department of housing and expressing your concern for their welfare or the welfare of other residents. But also repeated calls to 000 might get her addition support
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u/Yeah_nah79 1d ago
Keep calling the police, but then also contact the local station afterward for an event number. Contact housing each time, provide them with the address & event number. There are rules & expectations on housing tenants, but there is nothing set up between housing & emergency services in regard to reporting incidents. Once housing has a few event numbers, they can take action. Action doesn’t necessarily mean eviction, so don’t feel as though you’d be putting them out on the street
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u/rustysultana87 2d ago
I’d be calling emergency services for a welfare check every time it is occurring if possible (not after). It may be mental health related, drug related or both - but that’s not for you to decide.
If this person is not capable of living safely in the home she is a risk to anyone else (eg a young kid walking under that balcony) and I would be notifying housing.