Jennifer Pittorino
Matthew Tuck has lived at Bronte Court in Williamstown for eight years, establishing a life and a community. He was therefore devastated when he received a notice that his affordable housing building is to be retired.
In May 2023, Mr Tuck along with the rest of the residents living at Bronte Court, were delivered a letter from Homes Victoria notifying them they were going to be relocated.
“We have been told we need to relocate, but the thing is we have no information,” Mr Tuck said.
With no meetings or consultations, the Williamstown born local says feels he has been left in the dark.
Living in the same area for most of his life, Mr Tuck doesn’t want to leave Williamstown but feels he will have no choice.
“After I received the letter I contacted them with some places I would like to live and I didn’t hear anything back for eight months,” he said.
“They [Homes Victoria] still haven’t given me a reason why I can’t have them, they just say they are not for me.
“They are saying they are looking at other places for me, somewhere in Altona.”
Despite being told the other affordable housing blocks in Williamstown are not “for him”, other residents from Bronte Court have already been relocated in Williamstown.
“It seems unfair that some people are getting to stay in Williamstown and some aren’t,“ said Mr Tuck.
Since he received the letter in May, Mr Tuck has had no further communication from Homes Victoria.
“I have heard nothing, I have to go through complaints to get them to talk to me,” he said.
“I also went to (Williamstown MP) Melissa Horne and she said she knows nothing about it.”
Given the uncertainty of his future, Mr Tuck fears that he will relapse into alcoholism or drug abuse.
“I was born and bred in Williamstown and they want to move me, and they haven’t provided me with any help or support services at all.”
Mr Tuck was initially told he would need to be out by Christmas. Now nearly two months on, each day that passes is a weight on his shoulders.
“Everyone is in a panic because they haven’t told us anything,” he said.
“People have started leaving, there are only a dozen left.
“It is so wrong, I have never been treated like this.”
A Homes Victoria spokesperson said, “We’re working to deliver the best outcome for all residents at Bronte Court and have responded to all enquiries from current residents as we continue to work with the local community on how we can deliver better housing at the site.“
Williamstown MP Melissa Horne and Hobsons Bay council were approached for comment.
