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June 18th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
Updated
Tasmania’s Human Services Minister says she is “mortified” by images of a disabled man living in squalor, but was unaware of his plight.
Disability pensioner Gerard Stefaniw, 54, is living in sub-standard conditions in a Housing Tasmania unit in a Hobart suburb.
The unit has no wheelchair access and walls are damaged. There are broken windows, doors are hanging off cupboards, and Mr Stefaniw tries to keep warm with a small electric heater.
“I’m getting from bad to worse in fact,” he told ABC News.
Crippling osteoarthritis means Mr Stefaniw must use a wheelchair. Even basic tasks are a challenge, including dressing and going to the toilet.
Neighbour Glenda Fahey says a carer comes once a week to help.
“I don’t believe that’s enough for him, I feel his needs are greater than that,” she said.
“He has a lot of difficulty managing even the most simple basic tasks. His personal care is difficult for him.”
The ABC first visited Mr Stefaniw in May last year.
At the time, a government spokesman said Mr Stefaniw had knocked back an alternative home in 2010.
The spokesman said the matter would not be taken any further because the onus was on the client to reapply for another home.
Since then, Mr Stefaniw’s living conditions have worsened.
“I was very distressed and upset to see the condition that he was living in and the state of the unit,” Ms Fahey said.
Minister ‘mortified’ by images of squalid unit
The ABC requested an interview with Human Services Minister Cassy O’Connor last year about Mr Stefaniw’s plight.
Despite this, on Tuesday she told the ABC she was unaware of the case.
“There are 24,000 Housing Tasmania tenants in this state, and a number of them will be struggling,” she said.
I’m mortified by the images I’ve seen. I haven’t in my time seen anything quite like that.
“Ultimately, the role of housing Tasmania is to be a good landlord.”
After viewing images of the Mr Stefaniw’s accommodation, the minister said the scenes were distressing.
“I will look into this, of course I will, because I’m mortified by the images I’ve seen,” she said.
“I haven’t in my time seen anything quite like that.”
Ms O’Connor says she will visit Mr Stefaniw but wants him to invite her first.
Housing Tasmania says since being updated on Mr Stefaniw’s circumstances, alternative accommodation is being explored.
Topics:
welfare,
housing,
disabilities,
hobart-7000,
tas,
australia
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Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-18/minister-mortified-by-disabled-mans-squalid-home/4763440
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