Image: save_our_neighbours / Instagram
As the Paddington boarding house is just days away from its locks being changed, the last two tenants are looking down the barrel of unsafe, insecure, and unaffordable rentals, or homelessness.
The eviction of the Paddington boarding house tenants began 18 months ago, when the developer who bought the residential building, which provides affordable accommodation for low-income individuals, submitted a plan to redevelop the residential building into luxury housing.
Just two tenants remain in Paddington boarding house
The Paddington boarding house was a supportive residential accomodation for marginalised and low-income tenants, offering them affordable rent and a close-knit community.
Residing in the wealthy suburb of Paddington, the Paddington boarding house has been a refuge since the end of World War II. However, with plans to redevelop the building, luxury apartments are on the horizon for Selwyn Street, leaving the last couple of tenants possibly on the street.
Sorrow and grief is expressed by a Paddington Boarding House tenant, Jeff Elliott, when he told ABC, “It was like family. We all got on, we all helped each other”
Since the eviction, tenants have relocated to accommodations like aged care, social housing, family, or boarding houses. The last two tenants are yet to find replacements. Homes NSW, in a statement to the ABC, asserted that it is working to find accommodation for one tenant, whilst the other tenant has declined help.
The community of Paddington bands together
The community of Paddington has and currently still is advocating for the survival of the boarding house. The Instagram page save_our_neighbours pushes for action against developers, calling out the government for ignoring the needs of the tenants.
The Instagram page is operated by locals, showing the strength in numbers and community grassroots.
View this post on Instagram
Boarding houses on the decline create a scary reality
Boarding houses, like the one in Paddington, are a saving grace for residents who aren’t able to get into social housing, due to lengthy wait periods. Yet they are on a decline across Sydney, which Newtown Neighbourhood Centre CEO Elaine Macnish tells the ABC is due to “regulations and standards that come in around boarding houses.”
Residents rely on boarding homes to rebuild a home and community, creating a safe space to start again after living on the streets.
“Boarding houses are often that first step for people out of homelessness,” said Macnish.
She also said that a decline in the number of boarding houses in Sydney has contributed to an increase of people living on the street.
“The city of Sydney over the last year has seen a 25 per cent increase in street homelessness. I think that’s a direct impact from there not being enough affordable housing, like a boarding house, available in the inner city.”
Without boarding houses, a gap is left wide open, leaving vulnerable tenants to seek alternative affordable housing in a turbulent rental market.
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