Vulnerable residents in a Geelong social housing complex have been left prisoners in their own homes for months, trapped by a broken lift that shows no sign of being fixed. The situation has sparked a bitter blame game between the housing provider and the building's body corporate, leaving elderly and disabled tenants in limbo.
Months of Inaction and Mounting Frustration
The crisis is unfolding at a supported accommodation building on Autumn Street in Geelong, managed by social housing provider Barwon Health. The building's only lift broke down in late 2023, and despite promises, it remains out of service well into 2024.
This failure has had severe consequences for the building's residents, many of whom have mobility issues or rely on wheelchairs. Without the lift, they are effectively confined to their apartments, unable to leave for essential appointments, shopping, or social interaction.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described the profound impact. "I feel like a prisoner in my own home," they said. "I haven't been able to get to medical appointments. I can't go downstairs to get my mail. My independence has been completely taken away."
A Blame Game Leaves Residents in the Lurch
Barwon Health has pointed the finger squarely at the building's body corporate for the protracted delay. In a statement, a spokesperson for the organisation claimed the lift is common property and therefore the responsibility of the body corporate to repair.
"Barwon Health has been advocating to the body corporate to undertake these repairs since the lift failure occurred," the spokesperson stated. They emphasised that the organisation has been providing alternative support to affected tenants, including assistance with groceries and medication deliveries.
However, this explanation offers little comfort to those stranded upstairs. The core issue remains unresolved, with residents caught in the middle of a bureaucratic dispute over responsibility and funding for the costly repairs.
Broken System, Broken Lives
The ongoing saga highlights a critical failure in the system designed to protect some of the community's most at-risk individuals. Social housing tenants, who often have few resources or options, are bearing the brunt of this administrative impasse.
The physical and mental health toll on residents is significant. Isolation and the inability to access basic services or community life can lead to a rapid decline in wellbeing. Advocacy groups have long warned that such failures in social housing infrastructure directly compromise tenant safety and dignity.
As the standoff continues, the residents of the Autumn Street complex are left with unanswered questions and fading hope. The community is now calling for urgent intervention from local authorities or the state government to cut through the red tape and get the lift fixed, restoring freedom and dignity to those who have been without it for far too long.
