The appalling conditions of licensed boarding houses in NSW requires urgent and immediate reform, the Senior Solicitor of the Homeless Persons Legal Service, Ben Fogarty, said today.

A report from the NSW Ombudsman, released last week, identified serious human rights violations for people living in licensed boarding houses in NSW.

The report also identified inadequate support for boarding house residents’ safety, health and welfare.

‘Significant numbers of homeless people rely on boarding house accommodation. This is an extremely vulnerable group of people, many of whom have mental illnesses, physical disabilities and drug and alcohol problems,’ Mr Fogarty said.

‘The issues identified by the NSW Ombudsman highlight the need for reform of the licensed boarding house sector.

‘We need better monitoring and regulation to provide adequate support and protections for residents,’ he said.

Mr Fogarty said attempts to reform the sector have been painfully slow. He noted the Ombudsman’s findings regarding the failure of the Department of Family and Community Services – Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) to take adequate action to monitor and enforce existing standards.

‘There is an urgent need to establish a system of registration and improved regulation of boarding houses.

‘There is also an urgent need for the ADHC to take seriously its responsibilities to monitor boarding houses and ensure compliance with the statutory requirements,’ Mr Fogarty said.

Mr Fogarty emphasised that any reforms must also address unlicensed boarding houses, where there are almost no safeguards or minimum standards.

‘Our clients often resort to boarding house accommodation, whether licensed or unlicensed,’ he said.

‘As more licensed boarding houses close or relinquish their licences, the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework, which also covers unlicensed boarding houses, is absolutely essential.

‘The Ombudsman’s report shows that there are serious flaws in the legislative and monitoring frameworks for boarding houses. As the accommodation capacity of licensed boarding houses diminishes, more and more people are entering unlicensed boarding houses where there are even fewer safeguards.

‘These matters need urgent attention,’ Mr Fogarty said.

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