| Adelaide Homeless Gossip is archived by the National Library of Australia Gossip, Rumour and Quotes September to 11 December 2006 Home Homeless Hot Gossip 1 Latest 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Oldest Send your latest insights to [email protected] The most recent message appear at the top. "Help, help, I'm dying." cried Moses, the two-metre tall fellow with the frizzy hair and who carries his boom box around in a shopping trolley. The EMT ambulance drivers ignored him and went to the real patient lying on the footpath at Fred's Van. Moses got up and began giving them medical advice. Good advice. Moses is one smart eccentric. 11 December 2006 ***************************************************** "Ian isn't happy." Tabitha Collings of Hutt Street Centre talking about Ian Cox' reaction to this column. It should be noted that Ian Cox has a first class reputation amongst people living outside. ***************************************************** "Maureen and Paul [aged about 25] of Street to Home don't know what each other are doing. They're supposed to be a team." The homeless woman with oncology issues talking about the systemic failure within Street-to-home. *********************************************************** "Just give us your details and we'll get back to you," chimed two MACHA employees at the Homeless Health Day in Whitmore Square.. They were asked by one man how long the MACHA housing waiting list was. They answered two and a half years. He said he'd been on it over three years. Do you think they ever got back to him? If you guessed, "no" you'd be right. He is a critic of MACHA and therefore probably has been dumped right off the list. Homeless Politics 11 December, 2006 ********************************************************* "Special Dietary Requirements," asked the HomelessnessSA Conference Registration Form. Jo Wickes from HomelessnessSA said homeless, ex-homeless and those at risk of homelessness got free entry, just like the bureaucrats whose departments paid the $160 for two days. The former Editor of this column posted in his Registration Form for homeless free entry. Never heard a word from them. Homeless Politics. 11 December 2006 ******************************************************* "Good atmosphere," said a regular customer at the Otherway Centre. "Good place to meet friends, have a coffee." 7 December 2006 ************************************************ "Don't seem to be any scratches," said the woman who banged her car into the side of Shirley Peisley's Festiva at the Otherway Centre yesterday. Her attention was drawn to the scrape on the Festiva upon which she suffered sudden mental blankness. At least she recovered quickly and acknowledged the damage unlike the Scam Artist who borrowed the former Editor's $1400 then lost memory of the transaction. The Scam Artist is unable to mention the words "money" or "paying back" but threatens to visit the Editor's home to "fix the problem". This is after sending somewhat threatening responses to requests for payment. 7 December 2006 ************************************************************ "They should take the word 'mercy' out of Sister of Mercy," says the homeless woman who moved from Catherine House, run by the Sisters of Mercy, back to living outside. 7 December 2006 ******************************************* 5/12/06 Dear Wayne (Rufus), This is cat mouse/baby mouse. I love you. Please don�t worry about me. Be true to yourself. I�m sorry that you�re unable to contact me. I will try to get a phone soon. Good luck to Chelsea. Thank you my love for caring for me. Take care. Love always, Mouse xxxxx Editor�s note: Wayne can communicate with the sender of this message through [email protected] ****************************************************** Tabitha at Hutt Street Centre has been reported to be intimidating clients into not speaking to anyone from this website due to their comments reflecting badly on the Centre. Perhaps what reflects more badly is Hutt Street Centre allowing Street to Home to use a room to interview people living outside and where confidentiality is an issue. This is because those seeking housing are �forced� to sign documents that surrender privacy rights regarding shared personal information between agencies. 6 December 2006 ************************************************************* Cancer tests for the woman with breasts lumps and swollen lymph nodes have not been favourable. She is due for exploratory surgery next week and will have full anaesthetic then discharged the same day. She has left Catherine House Women�s Shelter, finding the rules intolerable. (They say she isn�t allowed to speak to her husband). She is now living outside. However, the various government and church agencies are helping out. Tabitha Collings, of Hutt Street Centre has found lodging for her after the surgery. Guess where? Cathrine House Women�s Shelter. 6 December 2006 ******************************************************** �Can you give me a big hug,� the desperate woman asked an employee at Catherine House, �and wish me the best?� �I don�t give hugs,� she replied, tilting her head back and exposing her nostrils. 6 December 2006 **************************************** �Oh, please, please, someone help me,� the same homeless woman asks to no one in particular at Fred�s Van. �I�m not a bad person, am I?� 6 December 2006 ************************************************************ �Street to Home has been totally useless,� the homeless woman says. 6 December 2006 **************************************** The scam artist mentioned below also owes money to a worker at Westcare. The employee said he hadn�t seen the scam artist �since Christmas when he borrowed some money.� 6 December 2006 ******************************************************** There was heaps of food at Fred�s Van last night except for tomato sauce. Some guy grabbed the big bottle and spewed it over the footpath. He also smashed a cup on the footpath after saying niggers had ripped him off. Adam shouted back at him and the African fellow was unhappy because there wasn�t any tomato sauce. 6 December 2006 ************************************************************** You can see the ex-homeless on the trains throughout the day, commuting to the city from Elizabeth and Noarlunga to be with their peer groups, to attend Fred's Van. Suburbia for some people is a psychological and social Siberia: the place you'd send people to punish them. It is particularly difficult for people with acquired brain damage who are simply dumped there. 5 December 2006 *********************************************** "People are saying that the Salvos don't bring as much food as Fred' Van, but some of us are also noticing other things. There are a few that push in, and keep on taking huge lots of stuff in bags, and then push in again. I was near top of line last night getting there at 6-10 PM, but only got one run, as tney ran out about 6-8 ahead of me but noticed one guy could hardly stagger with what he had, and the Salvos kept on telling him that he'd had enough, but he still kept on grabbing handfuls of stuff each time, just pushing in each time." contributed by JL 5 December 2006 ******************************************************* "I don't think you'll be getting it back." So says another man who does unpaid work at Byron Place Community Centre. He was referring to the $1400 I lent the Scam Artist mentioned below. The volunteer also lent him the Scam Artist $600 and used to drive him to doctors' appointments to treat a life-threatening condition. Then when it was time to repay the money he disappeared. 5 December 2006 ***************************************************** Rumour has it that certain people want parts of Hutt Street Centre bulldozed, ostensibly to make room for low-income housing, but actually to destroy it as a shower, laundry, and lunch centre for those living at Afton House and primary homeless people. The housing would merely replace government houses and flats sold to richer people. Hutt Street management deny this, but Cappo probably wants it as he wants to starve the poor out of the Adelaide CBD. Street-to-home has already infiltrated Hutt Street Centre and has the legal ability to get access to Hutt Street Centre client records. They do this by insisting homeless people sign away their privacy rights when applying for housing. 4 December 2006 ******************************************************** Scam Artist Alert in the Adelaide Homeless Scene There is a major predator in the homeless scene, quietly forming friendships then at an opportune time hits the person for a loan. He got me for $1400 last month with a promise to pay back in one-week. His excuse was an inability to get money from his term account and the money was needed for a car for one of his children. The day after the loan he sent an email asking for another $1600, to buy an even better car, which I refused. Homeless predators are tricky operators and come across as decent people and it is hard to refuse a loan to someone in apparent great need. He nailed an elderly man who volunteers at Byron Place Community Centre for a few hundred dollars. This was after the man gave him lifts to doctors. He never paid it back and avoids Byron Place like the plague. Needless to say my $1400 hasn't come back either and this predator has become very, very elusive from me, but he is still in the Adelaide homeless scene. 4 December 2006 **************************************** "They only allow us to watch G and PG movies, oh, and M rated movies if there isn't any swearing." A 40-year-old paying tenant at Catherine House Women's Shelter in Adelaide 30 November 2006 ****************************************************** The bureaucrats have finished the report on the incident where a homeless man punched in the face by a stranger was refused treatment at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, removed by private security guards then told not to come back. The report, according to Virginia Deegan, won't be made public even to PJ let alone his close supporters. Sandra Kanck also wants it made public. Meanwhile, PJ continues to suffer facial and sinus discomfort two months after the attack. He is also reluctant to return to the hospital. Another systemic failure in the Health System while that meddling priest, Cappo, prances about Adelaide telling how good things are going. 28 November 2006 **************************************************** "You should have been at "Fred's Cusine" last night. Steak sandwiches ... I had one and then have as steak and sausage sandwich," reports a regular at Fred's Van 28 November 2006 ******************************************************** �Dot Casey is on extended sick leave,� a tenant at Catherine House reports, shocked. 28 November 2006 ******************************************************** �They want me to go to a half-way house,� says the woman at Catherine House. �I need stability not being bounced around from one place to another.� 28 November 2006 ************************************************** The Disability Information Centre is compiling a new disabilities services directory. They got quite a surprise with Street-to-home who were too paranoid to provide their address - or anything, actually. Clinically paranoid? 28 November 2006 ************************************************** Cappo's Handmaidens at Catherine House Women's Shelter "You can't stay here," said Debbie, a twelve-year veteran employee at Catherine House where the homeless woman with oncological problems was staying. "I smell alcohol on your breath. Go to detox." It was 10:30pm and the woman had been out during the day and had drank one can of Bundaberg and Cola mix. "Get outside," she ordered the other woman who had already paid for the accommodation. Debbie told her to walk to the Salvation Army detox at Whitmore Square. Debbie locked the outside gate while the other woman stood on the footpath. Debbie phoned MAPS, the Mobile Assistance Patrol. "They'll be here in about an hour," she told the homeless woman. There was an unhappy discussion between them about waiting an hour in the dark on the footpath or walking. "Then I'll take you," said Debbie and they drove the Detox. There was a dispute between Debbie and a drunk outside Detox then with a male employee who passed out a breathalyser for the woman to breathe into. ".055," said the man. "Have you had a meal recently?" he asked the woman. "Yes," she replied and also restated that she'd had the can of alcoholic mix between 7:30pm and 8:30pm. There was an argument between the man and Debbie, the latter saying she clearly wasn't intoxicated and the reading matched her story. "If she goes and drinks a glass of water she'll be down to .04," the man said. Debbie didn't like this and insisted the woman be admitted to detox but the man said, no. Debbie and the woman returned to Catherine House. "Go and drink a glass of water then go to bed," she ordered the woman who asked to be able to make a phone call from the pay phone inside Catherine House and go out back for a smoke. "You have one minute for the phone call," said Debbie, "then don't talk to anyone else when you're outside." The woman was at Fred's Van the following evening, somewhat shaken to say the least. "I can't stay there. I've paid $60 and booked into Kiwi Lodge for one night. I'd rather live outside than Catherine House." She isn't on welfare but Workers Compensation from New South Wales following a work accident. However, she is often broke soon after payday because she is new to the homeless scene and has fallen prey to those who borrow money then become elusive. Meanwhile, during the day the woman visited Hutt Street Centre and talked to Rosemary Abdullah about her oncology testing for lumps in her breasts, swollen lymph glands and distended abdomen: "I'd like to say that everything will work out but we both know how serious this is," said Rosemary Abdullah to the homeless woman with oncological problems. "I'd like to say I know how you feel but not having this problem I don't." "She's good on a good day," said the homeless woman, appreciating frankness. 27 November 2006. ************************************************ WestCare wants to redevelop some of their rooms on Wright Street but the Adelaide City Council is refusing permission because they suspect WestCare will use the redevelopment to help homeless people. The Council, along with Cappo, want to restrict CBD services to the homeless and very poor in Adelaide so being transported to suburbia will appear more attractive. 27 November 2006 ****************************************************** "Street to Home is out to destroy Hutt Street Centre," said a man at Fred's Van and never before quoted on this website. 27 November 2006 ******************************************* Questions asked in Parliament about PJ Question asked 23/11/06 Legislative Council Sandra Kanck, MLC On the 25th August, a 66 year old homeless man known as PJ was assaulted in the city by a group of youths outside the Strathmore Hotel. He sustained, at least, a broken nose but refused to allow an ambulance to be called because he knew he would not be able to afford it. He was then assisted to walk to the Emergency Department of Royal Adelaide Hospital by a woman named Racheal. After number of hours in the ED waiting area, with his nose continuing to bleed, PJ queried why he was being kept waiting. According to PJ, at this point a security guard ushered him outside, where the guard manhandled and verbally abused PJ. PJ was so traumatised by both the bashing and the RAH incident that he went into hiding for seven weeks. When advised of the situation and the buck-passing that appeared to be happening in dealing with it, I wrote to the Health Minister seeking an explanation. The Minister recently e-mailed a response to some of the advocates for homeless people who had first raised the matter, and his e-mail has now been published on a website. In it the Minister justifies whatever behaviour that occurred as being �appropriate�, but he does say that �improved procedures� are now in place to better identify homeless people when they present to the ED. Both PJ and Racheal have independently, persistently and consistently maintained their version of events. My questions to the Minister are: Given that no security camera footage showing movements outside the ED is available, on what basis has the Minister concluded that the behaviour of the security guard was appropriate? In preparing a response for the Minister, did RAH officials interview either Racheal or PJ? If not, will the Minister meet personally with them to hear their side of the story? Is it correct that the security guard in question donned rubber gloves before his altercation with PJ, and that the same guard has threatened other homeless people in the vicinity of the RAH ED? Will the Minister speak with Chubb Security about appropriate choice of staff to be working in the ED? What are the improved procedures to identify homeless people, and why are these necessary? Posted 27 November 2006 ******************************************************** Joining Forces Street to Home has permission from Hutt Street Centre to use its premises to do psychiatric assessments by subterfuge on homeless people. Street to Home now has an Aboriginal social worker to entice her people into psychiatry. 24 November 2006 ********************************************** �I went to see Ian as you suggested,� the homeless woman at Catherine House told me. �He said he didn�t do housing anymore and suggested one of their social workers. I said anyone but Rosemary so guess who they assigned to me � Rosemary. Then I said I have tests [oncology] next week and they kindly suggested Rosemary accompany me.� 24 November 2006 at Fred's Van ****************************************************** �It was supposed to be an interview for housing but I knew within three minutes it was an assessment, a psychiatric assessment.� A man living outside talking of a supposed housing interview with Street to Home who now use the Hutt Street Centre. �They made me sign a form saying it was freedom of information or something.� The same man describing how he had to sign away privacy rights that have taken thirty years to develop and push through Parliament. 24 November 2006 ********************************************** �I took him to the psychiatric unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He�d never met her before, the patient we were visiting, but on the way out he was writing hearts in chalk on the footpath, saying how he loved her.� An Aboriginal elder talking about a younger friend who, the elder says, is the ultimate romantic. 24 November 2006 **************************************** �You can criticise Dave Walker for this and that but he has two daughters and he spent all those years picking up cans to buy them a house each,� said an elder at Westcare last week. Dave Walker is the man who was grabbed by Street to Home, photographed, detained at Glenside, drugged out, then trotted around to the Media by Roseanne Haggerty and Street to Home to show how well they were doing their jobs. They later shoved him into a place in Thebarton where he hasn�t anything to do and is drugged out on psychiatric drugs and has suffered a bad turn of health. Surprise, surprise. 23 November 2006 ******************************************************* Implication, Deceit, Prevarication David Panter is the Chief Executive officer of the Central Northern Adelaide Health Services that encompasses the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Panter wrote me in July, 2006 complaining about the section in "Homeless Wars" where I stated that "Rob Pegram, Executive Director of the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service�has ordered that no further information be provided to myself." Panter differed and wrote, "�I do not believe he has ordered no further contact�Dr Pegram has told me that despite these articles [Homeless Wars and New Wards of the State] if you wish to discuss the matter further he will make senior staff available�Dr Pegram has said that if you wish to have further communication please contact either John Forward, General Manager or John Hancock, Media Liaison by email." I fired off some questions to John Forward at [email protected], as recommended by Panter. It would be interesting to how he would deal with question 10 about an alleged assault by Greg Calder, Manager of Street-to-home. Would it be the standard cover-up? Question 10 asks: On or about 8 May 2006 I visited the reception area of Street-to-home at 15 Bentham Street, Adelaide. I took some pictures and Greg Calder reacted in what is perhaps a prima facie case of assault. Was any security camera video recording done of this incident? If so, does the recording still exist? If it does, can I get a copy of it? Did Calder and other staff make reports on this incident? If they did can I get copies? John Forward respondedwith the following email dated 29 August 2006, pledging to answer the questions �no later than 10 October�, 2006. I�ve retained his spelling errors. Dear Norm thanks for your questions. Within Central Northern Adealide Health, I have overall repsonsibility for Street to Home and homelessness programs in general - hence the request to email me your questions. You ahve listed quite a number of questions and many of them will require some thought and development - on the other hand some are simply yes and no answers. I will try to get to your questions as soon as I can - you can expect to have answers within the next 6 weeks. I think it is important for you to know that we do not take our jobs lightly. All our staff have a genuine interest in working with homeless people - particularly rough sleepers - and try to do the best by them. I'll get back to you no later than 10 October. regards john John Forward General Manager Strategic Projects and Prisoner Health * * * As of 21 November 2006 nothing has been heard from John Forward or David Panter, which wasn't surprising. Norm Barber Read the Full Story including the full list of Questions ********************************************** "I work my guts out six days a week, for forty years." says a can and scrap collecto at Fred's Van. He was justifying not giving a smoke to one of those people who watch the crowd then when they see someone light up rush over to ask for one. 22 November 2006 *************************************************** "The counsellor wants me on anti-depressants. They won't let me read or even leave my book on serial killers in the building. I have to take it with me during the day. We're allowed out until 11pm. I got back at 11:20pm and they wouldn't let me in. They said go to detox. I said I wasn't drunk. They said they knew that but detox would let me in on a compassionate basis. I walked to detox, at Whitmore Square, at midnight, by myself then returned to Catherine House in the morning. Catherine House wouldn't let me in the previous night even though I was paying to stay there," says the homeless woman mentioned elsewhere in this column. 21November 2006 ********************************************* "They want me to go to East Park Lodge. I said I want something stable not transitional like East Park Lodge. I need stability to deal with my medical issues [oncological]," says the same homeless woman. The Social Inclusion Commission has introduced a policy of excluding homeless people from government housing unless they go through Monitor Housing, sort of like being on parole, and which usually involves agreeing to go on psychiatric drugs. This is treating homeless people automatically as if we are crims, mental patients, drug addicts. ***************************************************** East Park Lodge has changed its tune since it was mentioned on this gossip column that they don't allow people to leave or enter the building in groups. Now staff encourage residents to sit outside. It is still half empty though because, as one resident put it: "They don't want druggies or alcoholics." 21 November 2006 ****************************************************** The Starvation Army did Fred's Van last night. There was a wide range of sandwiches with the bags marked with their contents. The coffee cups and cordial cups were disposable and clean. There was much laughter with the biggest crowd ever including kids. The Aboriginals were terrific giving the place a natural, earthy feel. The nitrates hot dogs ran out as did the cordial but there was little grumbling. One comment from that tall fellow with the Afro hairstyle gave the evening a jolt. He mentioned the words "pussy" and "mealtime" and expanded on the subject, perhaps a little too much. It made the Salvation Army women open their eyes a little wider and put one man off his hot dog. One Salvo man said he looks forward to working at Fred's Van while another Salvo man had a black eye. 21 November 2006 ************************************************* Latest on the PJ cover-up. The report won't be released. The Minsiter, John Hill, says the hospital was right. Read Hill's letter and an analysis of the government response. 20 November 2006 ********************************************** �Why should I work? They take fifty cents in the dollar off the pension. You get those rich bastards. They get accountants and pay nothing.� An old man on an old bicycle at theTeen Challenge/Jasmin Restaurant meal in Hindmarsh Square last Thursday evening. 20 November 2006 ******************************************** "We're not allowed to make friends with the other residents. They say we're not allow to talk with others living there about our problems." The homeless woman with oncological problems now staying temporarily at Catherine House, a government-funded women's shelter in Adelaide. The good thing is that the place is cheap so she can spend part of her worker's compensation money on food and treatment. But one can't help wondering if the unspoken price the system made her pay was to temporarily dissolve her marriage. "She's been housed," said a social worker. "No," I replied, "This is temporary accommodation. They can kick her out in a with a minutes notice." This is called secondary homelessness. 20 November 2006 ************************************** Adelaide City MP Jane Lomax-Smith's heavy footprint Westcare and Byron Place Community Centre have both shut down for half of each weekday. Westcare's main building is open four hours a day while Bryon Place is mostly shut during the afternoons. It is like two day centres have become one day centre. Wow. One source says this is because local residents dislike having poor people in the area. Good old Jane is backing the richer people 100%. 17 November 2006 ****************************************************** Fiddling the Books at Street to Home? Does anyone remember Cappo and Street to Home saying that the latter would target those living outside in the Adelaide CBD who wouldn't or couldn't access homeless services. That was the reason for Street to Home aggression. Well, Street to Home employees tried this but became afraid saying it was too dangerous to approach these people with a psychiatric agenda. But politics is politics and Street to Home is under pressure to perform. They must "house homeless people". So they hang around homeless day centres trying to grab people there. The one problem is that these people do know how to access services while the other group remain in the parklands. By grabbing the people who are already receiving services form the church homeless agencies Street to Home is ignoring its orginal charter. However, statistics are statistics and Greg Calder will fix things up so no one will notice this retreat, this change of policy that makes Street to Home redundant, doing nothing except sapping money that usually goes for homeless services.. Last Edit 17 November 2006 *************************************************** The homeless section of the Social Inclusion Commission has a budget of $20 million over four years. You don't see any of it reaching Fred's Van. Roseanne Haggerty's visit cost about $250,000. Father Cappo will get about $400,000 salary plus expenses. 16 November 2006 ******************************************* The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has begun a formal investigation into a complaint that the Senior's Information Service of Flinders Street, Adelaide introduced a rule that discriminated against men's access to their Internet Lounge. Two of the men affected were homeless and it is alleged that Manager, Colonel Irene Gibbons, (retired), distributed Street to Home pamphlets to some of the men using the computers, and reduced computer access to "break up the boys club". 16 November 2006 ******************************************************** Remember that SA state government and Social Inclusion Unit 2003 pledge that homelessness will be halved in the life of the government. "Life of the government" usually means one term so homelessness should have been halved by 2006. When a government wins a second term it is called, for example, "Mike Rann's second government." But now the latest pledge is reducing homelessness by half by 2010 and when this doesn't happen the Labour government can extend it, if they win the election, to 2014. 16 November 2006 ************************************************* WestCare wants to redevelop some of their rooms on Wright Street but the Adelaide City Council is refusing permission because they suspect WestCare will use the redevelopment to help homeless people. The Council, along with Cappo, want to restrict CBD services to the homeless and very poor in Adelaide so being transported to suburbia will appear more attractive. 15 November 2006 ********************************************* Does anyone know of anything that has happened as a result of Roseanne Haggerty's $250,000 Thinker-in-Residence visits? Just one tiny improvement, just one minor change? Apart from the increase in restaurant activity? 15 November 2006 ********************************************************* Gladys almost got smacked in the darkness at Fred's Van. She's an older woman with legs ruined by diabetes. She meant to move her electric scooter forward but instead reversed into four men. The potential smacker caught himself in time and Gladys is okay. 15 November 2006 ************************************************* "Rats attacking food," said a man about the cake and bread distribution method at Westcare in Millars Court. The bread room is rushed and the first 15 people grab what they want leaving nothing for the gentler people. (There isn't enough and supply varies greatly). This is similar to Fred's Van when the bags are distributed. It is undignified and unfair though one rule amongst the clients at Fred's Van is that women can go to the front of the queue. 15 November 2006 *********************************************** The homeless man and woman mentioned below have temporarily split up. The man has returned to Sydney. The woman is undergoing further oncological tests. There is some distension in the abdomen. Maureen of Street to Home says to the woman won't get further "housing assistance" until she fills out new housing application forms, same as before, except this time it is housing just for her. Maureen is going on holidays, anyway while Greg Calder is back from his holidays. It should be said this woman has had a life in full employment and at 48 years of age is new to the homeless scene. She isn't a regular. 14 November 2006 ***************************************** Surprise, surprise. Street to Home didn't have their stall t the Homeless Health Day in Whitemore Square. They missed so many interested people who wanted to ask questions. 14 November 2006 ***************************************************** There wasn't any coffee at the Homeless Health Day in Whitmore Square. ********************************************* "Lack of sleep. That's the hardest," said a man at Byron Place Community Centre, currently sleeping outside. "You sleep with one eye open. I've been robbed four times this year." 13 Nov 2006 ******************************* Deliberate Disinformation Remember that magic number, 37? That was the estimated number of people living outside in the Adelaide CBD. The Department of Health hired students to search a small part of the Adelaide parklands with torches early one morning. These experts at finding people sleeping outside said the number was 37. Greg Calder and his crowd provided that figure to Roseanne Haggerty, that New York property developer who then promoted that number in the media to justify, among other things, the government paying her $250,000 for a few weeks "work" as Thinker-in-residence. Even Street-to-home know the number is at least 150 but Calder didn't have the guts to contradict the American real estate agent: He's pretty tough with exhausted homeless people though with his "superiors" he is, well, a little different. Calder is also unhappy because next time he has to show how effective Street to Home has been in reducing numbers he won't be able to go lower than 37. The New York Real Estate woman beat him to it. 13 November 2006 ******************************************************** Sandra Kanck, Democrat MP in the South Australian Parliament visited Fred's Van last night looking for PJ. She is also trying to get a copy of the government report on Chubb Security guards phsyically forcing an injured and bleeding PJ from the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The government is suppressing the report from public view, including PJ's view. 10 November 2006 ******************************************************** While at Fred's Van Sandra Kanck spoke to the woman with a grave medical disorder who has left the stinking Hamshire Hotel and Packpackers and is now living in yet another transient accommodation joint. Sandra is going to take the matter up with the Health Minister. 10 November 2006 ******************************************************** "Oh, right," said Maureen, of Street-to-home when advised by the homeless woman mentioned above that she has breasts lumps and a swollen lymph glands and is facing radical surgery with a medium outcome. "Would you like a glass of water before you leave?" asked another employee when the same woman visited Street-to-home's secret rooms on the first floor at 15 Bentham Street, Adelaide. 10 November 2006 ************************************************************* "They said they didn't know anything about the Homeless Health Day in Whitmore Square," reported an informant to this website. Street-to-Home have such a bad reputation they're reluctant to show their face in public,especially to those being "helped". 10 November 2006 *********************************************************** "They pulled down Danny's Squat," said the white woman who had the punch-up with a black woman at Fred's Van last month. "They threw out all our stuff." 10 November 2006 ***************************************************** Warren is again bringing the coffee trailer to Hindmarsh Square on Thursday's evenings at 5:pm for the Jasmin Restaurant food. His diabetes was so bad he didn't have the strength to hook up the trailer and load the supplies. ************************************************************* "He was bawling his eyes out." Description of a man released after 26 years in jail, totally institutionalised and easily ordered around. He was attacked on Hindley Street and suffered a dislocated elbow. The Royal Adelaide Hospital treated him at night, gave him six Panadol Forte and said goodbye. His arm was all swelled up. A few days later he was attacked a second time while sleeping near the Torrens River and his blanket stolen. He was later sleeping under cardboard and the police woke him with a dog, searched all his belongs then said he must be hiding something to be living this way. Instead of helping him the police were simply another mode of abuse. 8 November 2006 ************************************************************** Westcare owns the old bakery buildings at the end of Millar Court off 212 Wright Street Adelaide. They've sought permission to develop them; they have the money. The Adelaide City Council is holding things up and supported by Jane Lomax-Smith. It seems the two "political enemies", Mayor Harbison and ex corpse chopper, Jane, have the identical aim of forcing the poorest people out of the Adelaide CBD to make way for the expected influx of richer people and foreign students. 8 November 2006 ********************************************* Update to the open letter to Dave Cappo A group of people sitting at the unshaded table outside at the Otherway Centre on 7 November 2006 agreed that David Cappo, considering his high income, should donate the cost of installing shade cloth over the client area. Barbie nominated Father Cappo and five others said, "Uh huh". 8 November 2006 ******************************************************** Open letter to Father Monsignor Vicar General Social Inclusion Commissioner David Cappo Dear Dave, Could you please inform the public via this website about your income and whether you have taken a vow of poverty? I hope you don�t think these questions are based on the politics of envy. I just want to compare them with those who live outside across West Terrace from your proclaimed residence. I understand you drag in $100,000 from the Social Inclusion Commission and keep this money for yourself: "for a rainy day". Is this true? Do you also get $45,000 from the Economic Development Board? Do you keep this or give it to the Church like Janet Mead did when she had a No 1 Pop Chart hit in the 1970s? Do you have your living quarters at the Archbishop�s Residence in West Terrace? If so, who pays for the food and power? Do you get a car provided by the Church? Do you have a church chauffeur and a manservant to make your bed, iron your clothing and clean your living quarters? What other stuff do you get: e.g. wine, that purple robe, etc? Also, when you visit Hutt Street Centre and give orders, do you make it clear whether you�re speaking as a Monsignor of the Catholic Church or the Commissioner of Social Inclusion? Could you provide a copy of all the vows you�ve taken during your meteoric career? Yours truly, Norm Barber PS: I understand you�ve stated that you know many homeless people by name. A friend living outside spent a week asking other people living outside if they knew you. Not one person admitted knowing you; they didn�t even know the Social Inclusion Commission existed. 6 November 2006 ******************************************* WestCare fixed the lock on the door of the men's toilet, but the door is still wonky and won't close properly. At least they tried. 6 November 2006 ******************************************** The homeless joints still have those open bowls of sugar, etc. Just the ticket to spread diseases like Hep A. Hutt Street should be called Hutt Street Hep A Spread Centre; Otherway should be called Otherway Hep A Spread Centre and Byron Place should be called Germs Central. ****************************************** "As long as you have pokies you'll always have homelessness," said a man living outside and dining at Teen Challenge on a Thursday night at 5:30 pm outside at Hindmarsh Square with quality food provided free by Jasmin Restaurant. 6 November 2006 *********************************************************** Watch the cook at Hutt Street Centre. She spilt beans and sauce on the rim of one plate then wiped the stuff off with her hand, which she then put into her mouth. Glad I wasn't the next patron though maybe she did it to a previous customer, too. 3 November 2006 *************************************** Social Inclusion as an Agency of Exclusion The man and woman previously mentioned in this column and living outside in the Adelaide CBD are now holed up at the Hampshire Hotel and Backpackers at 110 Grote Street Adelaide. They pay over $300 a week for a room, which is most of their money. �It�s an Edwardian building,� says the man, �the problem is that it hasn�t been cleaned since the Edwardian period. The woman says, "The rats and cockroaches cross the street to avoid the place." The man suffers an enlarged liver from a viral infection while the woman is gravely ill with lumps in her breasts and lymph nodes and is due for radical surgery with a medium prognosis. There are also other medical issues. She has pawned her wedding rings and they go to Fred�s Van for free food. She wants to live outside because it is too noisy and threatening in the hotel. �I can�t sleep, can�t relax,� she cries. �All the drug deals, the shouting, the screaming and you know what throughout the night.� They are on the Category 1 waiting list with HousingSA and the estimated time of a flat or unit is 12-18 months. Street-to-home is supporting them with a cup of coffee each per week in a coffee shop in exchange for the couple answering dozens, even hundreds of questions about their personal lives. All their personal details are broadcast at the coffee table because Street-to-home is too paranoid to allow anyone inside their offices at 15 Bentham Street, Adelaide. Street-to-home has offered suburban housing but due to medical issues the couple must remain in the City and the woman won�t sign papers giving Social Workers scheduled access to any accommodation they get through the government. Street-to-home has tried to get them to join ROOFS, a housing organization for schizophrenic people though the couple say, �We�re not schizo,� and they clearly are not. It is ironical that throughout this ordeal and the couple�s clearly declining health Street-to-home has access to empty units in the Adelaide CBD but Greg Calder, the Manager and other staff have declined to offer any of them to this couple. 3 November 2006 East Park Lodge An explanation from two insiders about why the government-funded East Park Lodge in Angas Street, Adelaide remains mostly empty goes as follows: Wealthy neighbours don�t want sixty ex-homeless living nearby and threatened to vote against local government MP Jane Lomax-Smith at the next election. The State Government responded by requiring 24/7 supervision if resident numbers rise above a dozen or so. MACHA, who manage the place, can�t afford 24/7 supervision, approximately $500,000 a year, so East Park Lodge remains mostly empty. The same situation applies to the three-year delay in the Afton House redevelopment. Jane Lomax-Smith is laughing. Father Vicar General Monsignor Social Inclusion Commissioner David Cappo won�t say boo on this issue despite his previous statements in the media announcing both buildings would be redeveloped and available to homeless He�s keeps his mouth shut because he is an appointee of Premier Mike Rann plus Cappo supports the government plan to remove most �homeless� from the CBD, anyway, and disperse them into the poorer parts of surburbia. Meanwhile, staff at East Park Lodge appear to have warned residents, especially a small, fragile elderly man named, �Normie� not to speak about East Park Lodge to anyone, especially to other people still living outside. Oh, and all that money said to be �helping the homeless� hasn�t helped them at all: just created nice clean empty rooms full of new furnishings. 2 November 2006 ********************************************** "I don't see any signs," said a smiling woman working at the Otherway Centre. She was commenting on the signs saying no eating and drinking were allowed inside the building. It was raining a tiny bit and a bit windy. *********************************************** Certain Chubb security guards at the Royal Adelaide Hospital wear badges saying: "Defuse", which based on their reputation with homeless people means, "Incite". ****************************************** "How am I going to feed them all," said Ian Cox of Hutt Street Centre, once lunchtime. ******************************************** Tame Homeless Only, Thanks. Why hasn't the person who helps with this website www.geocities.com/socialinclusionwar got a response to an application for free entrance to the HomelessnessSA conference at the Morphet Vale Race Cousrse. He posted the application form to the Homelessness Post Box but got no response. Why is the HomelessnessSA email address always dead despite being listed on the application form. [email protected] Funny, Jo Wickes said all homeless, ex-homeless and those at risk of homeless could attend without paying just like the government bureaucrats who will attend without paying. 2 November 2006 ************************************ "Street-to-home nabbed a mate, bit of a drinker, put him in a place [Palm Lodge psychiatric boarding house) near the Maid and Magpie." man at Byron Place Community Centre 2 November 2006 **************************************** "I don't mind appearing a little silly if it will help homeless people," said a church-based worker when complement on a frank and open manner. 2 November 2006 *********************************************** "There's no such thing as client self-determination." Greg Calder, Manager of Street-to-home posted 1 November 2006 ********************************************* Have you read that one in the media where Cappo says he knows most of the homeless by name? One man living outside spent a week asking others sleeping rough if they knew David Cappo. Guess what percentage knew him by name or description? If you guessed 0% you'd be right. The next thing he'll be doing is saying God visits him every evening to play chess. 1 November 2006 ******************************************* The government-funded Seniors Information Service of 45 Flinders Street, Adelaide wanted to discourage men from using the over 50s Internet Lounge and "break up the boys' club". They called Street-to-Home who delivered some leaflets to attract two homeless men using the computers. Neither fell for that trick so the mostly female staff used other methods to �discourage� men in preference to females. The point is, however, they understood Street-to-home was a method of removing men. The female staff weren�t trying to help the men just get rid of them. Heather Mason and Colonel Irene Gibbons (ret) of the Seniors Information Centre at 45 Flinders Street, Adelaide. 1 November 2006 ******************************************* Hutt Street Centre closed down this morning at 9am (1 Nov 2006) for staff training as if the customers have many other options. What government department or private business would dare act similarly? It is both the stretched finances at Hutt Street and the low social status of their clientele that makes such a shut-down seem reasonable. Otherway Centre is also closed on Wednesdays until 1:30pm. One would think they'd avoid the same shut-down days as Hutt Street considering they're both Catholic Orders. Hey, why not shut down Cappo's shower and amenities? The reason could be staff training for the cleaner. 1 November 2006 **************************************** Wendy Dunlop, the public relations officer for the Salvation Army has stopped denying that their secret, unused restaurant exists in a building owned by the Salvos on Gilbert Street, Adelaide. It has been suggested it could be used for Fred's Van rather than the van people serving food outside in all weather. Mind you, she hasn't admitted the restaurant exists except to imply that a different section of the Salvation Army controls it. We still wait for the unfolding of this little story. 30 October 2006 ******************************************************** The St Vincent de Paul Society hasn't got back to me on why they keep their restaurant at Whitmore Square empty 23 hours a day including the time when Fred's Van serves food outdoors. To be fair Tony Roach did say it was due to funding conditions so the question this raises is, who is stopping it from being used? Jane Lomax-Smith? 30 October 2006 ******************************************* "Marj isn't interested." A report reached us that the manager of Byron Place isn't interested in a broad-based data base that shows what services are available for people living outside. Such a data base would allow those living outside to pick and choose - and demand government funded services they are eligible to receive. 30 October 2006 ********************************** "Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha," a female employee laughs loudly behind the Otherway Centre counter to a man asking for something without meat. The Otherway Centre provide pies and pasties on request, but not everyone accepts that beggars can be choosers. Another woman checks the oven and says, in a respectful voice: "I'm terribly sorry, we don't have any without meat." 30 October 2006 ************************************* "Have you seen Gelignite Jack?" asked an employee about a client to another employee at the Otherway Centre on Thursday, 26 October at 12:26pm. "Don't you mean, Cactus Jack?" responded another. "He is a little explosive," commented another. "I saw him at Mass. He's a Catholic. He has such a beautiful voice," says an old woman behind the counter. ************************************************** Remember the story of Street-to-home taking a homeless man and woman to Kilburn to look at that dump. Well, Maureen, of Maureen and Paul of Street-to-home offered another place to them at Kilburn. They offered to drive them to see the place, but this time they wouldn't be allowed to go inside but could peek through the screened windows only. Street-to-home weren't taking any chances that the interior condition of this next joint would be reported on this gossip column. The couple would have to make a decision on whether to move into the dwelling based on an outside view only. 27 October 2006 *************************************************** "Rabid," said a person describing MP Jane Lomax-Smith's response to an issue about civil liberties of people living outside. She, according to the person, let loose with a tirade against homeless people especially Aboriginals. The East Park Lodge renovated for homeless people is kept mostly empty to appease neighbours who might withdraw their support for Lomax-Smith at the next election. 26 October 2006 ******************************************** "Can I have another cup of coffee?" asked a woman of a Street-to-home employee. Street-to-home are too paranoid to let anyone up to their offices at 15 Bentham Street, Adelaide so meetings take place in public places like cafes. Such is their respect for client privacy. "Can you answer some questions?" Paul, aged about 25, asked a man living outside, adding, "We've filled out the first four pages from what we already know about you." The man had asked Paul, of Paul and Scott, from Street-to-home, about getting accommodation. Many bureaucrats working in the homeless industry refer to the Minister for Housing, Jay Weatherill, as "Jay", like a friend yet he is in charge of diminishing the Housing Trust of SA, which is now called HousingSA, same name except the word "Trust" has been removed. Such sycophants. PJ Cover-up continues: Virginia Deegan, RAH General Manager and Con Finos, the Patient Services Adviser are playing the same same as John Forward. The big issue behind it is the Royal Adelaide Hospital's continued reluctance to treat homeless, injured people. Sandra Kanck, Democrats MP in the South Australian Parliament has formally asked John Hill, Minister for Health, to make public the secret Royal Adelaide Hospital investigation into the maltreatment of homeless man, PJ. The cover-up has been in full swing for two months and appears to be orchestrated by a number of Central Adelaide Health Service employees including John Forward. We, at this website, welcome any refutation or corrections and would appreciate anyone proving there isn't a cover-up in progress. Contact: [email protected] PJ Update 25 October 2006 "I spooked them." A homeless person describing the reaction of Street-to-Home when he visited their secret offices on the first floor at 15 Bentham Street, Adelaide. Staff pretended his "workers", Paul, aged about 25, and Maureen weren't there. He described their reactions like they, as an organisation, were suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, or felt they were under some extreme threat from homeless people. October 2006 "After we agreed the Seaton place was inappropriate, [for medical reasons] and that we should get a place in the City, the other one was still pushing the Seaton place." A man describing the systemic breakdown within Street-to-home and its dealings with other agencies. October 25 Otherway Dreams The men�s toilets at Otherway have a light switch timer so if you're inside the room for more than five minutes the light goes out. You can turn in on only by going back outside into the office area and pressing the button. The paid staff use the toilet for the disabled: it is larger, cleaner, has a secure lock, and the room doesn�t suddenly go pitch black. The hot water urn stopped working at Otherway one day last week. An "Out of order" sign was taped over it. There was no alternative jug provided; no explanation. It was fixed the next day, but still not cleaned. Have you seen how dirty, grimy, germy it is, horrible. The sugar is in a big, wide bowl so if someone with germs coughs nearby, well, you get it in your sugar, and people have diseases there like Hep A and B, communicable via food. The cafe bar has a sugar dispenser but they say it gets blocked. October 2006 "They wanted to send us to this place [ROOFS] like we were schizophrenic. We're not schizophrenic; we're just in a difficult situation." Homeless couple living outside and being pressured by Street-to-home by default to declare themselves mentally ill and accept drug treatment. October 2006 "Category 2 and 3 have stopped moving and aren't expected to regain movement; they are dead; the patient is dead," said a man who checks movements on the waiting lists of HousingSA, (formerly Housing Trust of SA) 24 October 2006 �I�m trying to get some new buildings in place for homeless people,� Cappo said in the Adelaide Advertiser and added that he hopes to raise $5million from private industry, which would be matched by the State Government. He forgot to mention there would be a net loss for poor people due to the government continuing to sell existing government housing to richer people. Cappo is attempting to create the public impression that things are improving whilst convening the purge of people living outside in the Adelaide CBD. Uh, Cappo, what about East Park Lodge remaining partly empty. Duh. 24 Oct 2006 "That fixed that," said a person who didn't want to complete the Census2006 forms. The reluctant information provider claimed to the Census2006 collectors to be homeless and wouldn't answer the usual questions but requested the special list of questions Census2006 used for homeless people. The raised-voice interrogators initially claimed the homeless census forms didn't exist then when corrected made three phone calls and said they'd return with the homeless forms. That was the last the person heard from them despite being easily contacted and willing to complete the homeless forms. 24 October, 2006 "Sign here," Rosemary Abdullah, an employee of Hutt Street Centre told a homeless woman, pushing forward a form giving a range of agencies the ability to cross-reference the homeless woman's personal information such as legal, medical, Centrelink, etc. After signing Rosemary didn't provide a copy to the homeless woman who can't remember exactly what she signed or who is getting to see her personal details. mid october 2006 "Always ask yourself, 'What will happen if I don't buy this product? How will I manage without it?' (It may be that you don't really need it.)" Advice given to poor people in a pamphlet distributed at the Anti-Poverty Week promotional event in Rundle Mall on 16 October 2006. Heaps of well-paid executive types were there giving speeches. Meanwhile, within 1 kilometre, a 66-year-old man, not on the old age pension or any government payments, and sleeping outside, and who doesn't use drugs or drink alochol, gets his food by taking it from plates at outdoor restaurant tables, and from free food joints (occasionally). "Uh, um, yes." Tony Roach, Coordinator of Fred's Vans, replying to the question, "Will you look into why the old Iliad restaurant at Whitmore Square, used by St Vincent de Paul, is kept empty 23 hours a day including the times when Fred's Van serves food outside and where there aren't any toilets available in this outdoor area? And will you get back to me via email? The question was asked in Rundle Mall at some anti-poverty week promotional event. "Do you know Norm Barber?" Paul, aged about 25, this time with Scott from Street-to-Home, speaking to the same people at 4pm 17 October 2006. The question was strategically placed during a meeting regarding housing via Street-to-Home. Would a yes or no answer affect housing availability? "Nice night for sleeping outside," Paul, aged about 25 (of Paul and Maureen) both of whom work for Street-to-Home in Adelaide. He was speaking to a man and woman aged about 50 and 40 respectively who were sleeping out on the steps of a Uniting Church in Adelaide. Posted 11am on 17 October 2006 "You could see through it this morning." A Hutt Street Centre client talking about the watered down milk. 12 Oct 2006 ************************************************ "We lost three last week," Shirley Peisley at the Otherway Centre 12:30pm Thursday 12 October, talking about her wall-to-wall funerals ************************************************* When Cappo prances into the Catholic Hutt Street Centre and gives orders he doesn't make it clear whether his commands are coming from his government position of Social Inclusion Commissioner or as the Church's Monsignor. Management doesn't know. Is this a subtle form of corruption? *************************************************** Why does Byron Place Community Centre and Otherway Centre have a wide open bowl of sugar for tea and coffee where licked spoons are replaced into the bowl despite the epidemic of Hepatitis A which is transferable via food. They could easily use those old-fashioned restaurant containers that one tips upside down and the sugar pours out? **************************************************** Do the food handlers at homeless places have health checks for Hepatitis A and B? Why not? ************************************************** Monsignor Vicar General Social Inclusion Commissioner David Cappo is paid $45,000 for a part-time position on the state government's Economic Development Board. This is on top of his $100,000 annual payment for being the Social Inclusion Commissioner. It would be nice to know if this humble man receives subsidised rent at the Archbishop's House in West Terrace, payment for being an Monsignor and provision of a car,a manservant or whether he does his own laundry and irons his own clothing. Also, does he wave goodnight from his window to the other side of West Terrace where people sleep under the bushes. ************************************************* �The Salvation Army doesn�t have anything in the area,� says Barry Smith while reviewing food services offered in the Port Adelaide/Semaphore October 2006 ************************************************* Two years ago Centrelink workers who had breached the most clients were given awards at old Parliament House in Canberra. The entertainment was unemployed people danced and prancing about a stage. The HomelessnessSA conference is having homeless people provide singing entertainment. They'll have about two lessons in singing then perform at the conference. Should get a few laughs and the odd tear. ******************************************************* People who are homeless, have a long history of homelessness, or are at risk of homelessness are invited to attend the HomelessnessSA conference at Morphett Race Course in November, without charge. One person who provides information for this website, and fits this criteria, has posted an application form for a ticket. Strange, there hasn't been a reply. The form must be have gotten lost in the post. October 2006 ******************************************************** �What the Manager Can�t Do: Enter your room at any time without good reason. However, you must allow the manager to have reasonable access to your room.� ShelterSA booklet: Rooming Houses. �They go through your stuff, the drawers, your bags, when you�re out, looking for drugs.� Reported statement of a tenant at East Park Lodge, managed by MACHA. �What the Manager Can�t Do: Make House Rules that are unreasonable or that do not help to maintain the health and safety of persons in the rooming house.� ShelterSA booklet: Rooming Houses. �Tenants aren�t allowed to leave the building except alone and cannot return in groups. They can�t go back of the building in pairs, only alone.� Reported statement of a tenant at East Park Lodge, managed by MACHA. *********************************************************** "Sure, anytime," employee at Hutt Street Centre, inviting police to return after they'd been through the building looking for a patron. (Sept 2006) ******************************************************** Three people report being doused with diesel oil by security guards on the weekend while sleeping on railway property near the Adelaide Gaol. One might imagine the smiles of the Social Inclusion Commission and that priest David Cappo upon hearing this news. 5 October 2006 ******************************************************** "Cut face, bruises, buttons ripped off" Description of PJ after being taken to a stair well by Chubb security guard at the Housing Trust before being thrown out. "They told me they didn't have an office." a social worker after being told Street-to-home had offices on the first floor at 15 Bentham Street, Adelaide (Sept 2006) ******************************* "The Catholic Church has millions and you're watering down the milk..." a breakfast guest observing a tradition at the Hutt Street Centre, Adelaide (July, 2006) Latest Gossip |
