Social housing tenants are being relocated from 61 houses in Menai so the properties can be sold.
Tenants said the moves were causing great distress to people who were being given little notice to leave homes and neighbourhoods in which some had lived for decades.
However, St George Community Housing, which owns the properties, said proceeds from the two-year sales program would generate revenue to increase social housing and cut the waiting list of 60,000.
The first five houses auctioned in recent weeks sold for between $745,000 and $890,000.
Gary Surman who lives in O’Neill Street with his partner Kim Carlyon, moved there 22 years with his then wife Michelle and their son Zac, who had severe disability.
”Zac passed away eight years ago, and this house holds many memories,” Mr Surman said.
“There are five of us in this street who don’t want to move, including a couple who are 90 and have been here 30 years.”
Tracy Opera, who does not have to move but is campaigning against the relocations, said, when the state government transferred ownership of the properties to the community housing provider several years ago, residents were assured they had no need for concern.
The relocations had caused “panic and disruption”, she said.
“One neighbour is constantly in tears from worrying after being told her animals must go, and she will be moving or her tenancy will be terminated,” Ms Opera said.
”People are feeling bullied and powerless.”
St George Community Housing manager of customers and communities, Barb McKenna, said, “As a community housing provider, we are trying to provide more social and affordable housing for people in need”.
“We have to balance the needs of existing tenants with the need for more housing,” she said.
Ms McKenna said the properties had been identified for sale based on their age and condition, and whether they were meeting tenants’ needs, which had changed over the years.
“We totally acknowledge and appreciate some tenants have been there for a long time, and it’s a very difficult and stressful thing to be told you have to move,” she said.
“We are speaking to the residents and saying ‘we want to work with you to understand your needs so we can relocate you to another home that meets those needs and in a location as close as possible’.”
Ms McKenna said some tennats had moved to a new apartment block at Peakhurst, while others had gone to a new development in Menai.
Relocation costs, including a removalist and utilities, were met, she said.
Ms McKenna said the sales would take place over two years, and there would be no exceptions.
”The sales are going to happen,” she said.
“We will work with [the tenants] about the timeframe and their housing needs.”
