I know this is the wrong website to write this on but im not sure who else to ask. I typed in ‘Australia housing forum’ and this website was the first to come up. I am homeless and I have a disability and am on centrelink disability pension. I have been homeless since October last year.

I am on the department of housing priority list. They have told me I am at the very top of the list.

I have been waiting for an offer of housing for months now. I was so happy that I got an offer last week and I said straight away I would take it. They said by legal requirement I had to look at the flat first. When I went to look at the flat in Waterloo I was actually attacked by hundreds of fleas as soon as I entered the property. I was so scared and I went to the department of housing office and I was still actually covered in fleas so they definitely believed me. And now I am waiting for another offer and im so worried its going to be more and more months until they call me.

They have a private rental subsidy (called PRS) where the department of housing pays most of the rent for you to live in a place in the private rental market. It means that I would be able to have accommodation straight away. However they said to me that because I am too far UP the listing I cant get this. They said they only offer it to people who are further down the waiting list. I find this unbelievable because it seems that people who have less urgent needs then me can get assistance with accommodation before me but I just have to wait wait wait.

I have a rash all over my body from going for several weeks without a shower. I stayed in refuges but found them to be more dangerous then sleeping on the streets because the other people there did drugs and were violent and abusive. So mostly I have been staying on friends lounges but there is only so much that you can do this.

By the way, my disability is mild in that I only need a walking stick and I am not in a wheelchair or anything. I had a companion dog who I had to give to a friend to mind and I really need to find a place so I can get her back because I feel so lonely and lost without her.

Every time I call department of housing they say that a place will become available soon but I dont believe it. As I have been waiting so many months now I am really depressed and have no hope. I just wish they would approve me for the private rental subsidy in which case I would have a house straight away. Please can anyone offer any advice or know who I should talk to?

