Comment on Daily discussion thread: šļøššš¾ šļøšŗ Tuesday, June 11, 2024
melbaboutown@aussie.zone āØ3ā© āØmonthsā© agoFaaar out. Nooo.
Iām so sorry you went from being sick on your trip to coming back to this guyā¦
Do you have a complaints process? From experience complaints to government services tend to go into āthe round fileā (ie. the bin) and I know this is a lot to put on you.
But it might be a smart move to buy a cheap A4 notebook and note the times and dates of any incidents. Put in complaints as often as you can for as long as you can stand it. Guy swears at you or damages something or clogs the toilet? Write down the incident, time and date. Cops show up? What happened, time and date (and cops names and station if possible). Unnecessarily high bill from something heās done? Time and date. Something of yours goes missing? You know what to do.
It sucks and feels useless but it lays a paper trail demonstrating a pattern of behaviour that might get him kicked out, lay the foundations for an IVO if one is ever needed (touch wood it isnāt), or may hopefully protect you from liability for something stupid heās done. I am so sorry youāre having to deal with this especially at your young age.
Ps. Definitely get the lockable toolbox for under your bed and bike chain it to the frame out of sight. Grab yourself a lanyard to keep keys on you and lock your door even just to go to the toilet.
Also - you probably know this already, and may have already been doing this in the old place. But since this kid sounds like a problem it might be cautious to not leave your own personal toiletries in a shared bathroom in case they get used up, stolen or messed with.
Maybe buy a wash bag or a beach bag to have your own toiletries in, keep them in your room and carry to the bathroom as you need them.
A few generic āsharedā things in the bathroom as window dressing are all I would leave out around a person like this. (A bare minimum amount of basic things you donāt care about like a cheap bottle of hand soap, a few homebrand bar soaps and the cheapest brand TP.)
Ps. Sorry for if this sounds like a lecture. Iāve just lived with people like this in the past
Baku@aussie.zone āØ3ā© āØmonthsā© ago
Yeah, there is a complaint process (thereās several, actually). The program coordinator said sheās issued a 1st warning, but thereās a total of 3 warnings before thereās a strike. Any subsequent warnings automatically become a strike, and 3 strikes = being kicked out. If something like this happens again, I will complain. The program coordinator seems to think heās probably going to be kicked out eventually, so thatās a nice signā¦
Fortunately our bathrooms and toilets arenāt shared (seriously I went through almost 6 years of that, and never again.), so I donāt need to worry too much about toiletries going missing. Our utilities are included in our rent, and the bills donāt actually get sent here, they go straight to the head office. But I imagine if the 24/7 heating keeps happening, weāll probably get a conversation about electricity usage.
Unfortunately I donāt think we can close the ducts we have in our rooms, theyāre the older style 4 panel ones that are shaped like a cross and have 4 panels in each corner that can be adjusted to different directions that forms a square. Doing some Google, apparently theyāre sometimes magnetic, and magnetic vent covers are a thing, but they look more plastic like to me, so it may be a case of needing to duct tape some cardboard to it. I actually did buy a heater from Kmart because my last one clogged up with dust and I couldnāt get it out without tearing it down, couriers please were meant to deliver it almost a week ago, but just kinda decided they didnāt want to. You probably know how they are.
I am actually considering buying a couple of appliances for my room. Kmart sell kettles and toasters for 7 bucks, and a 2nd hand bar fridge is only like $50 on gumtree or the marketplace, but I donāt know whether I should go to that extreme yet. It feels possibly overkill.
Theft and drug use wise, the program coordinator still hasnāt actually filled me in on the details and seems pretty set on keeping that a state secret. I found out through the lead tenant that moved out. Although it will probably affect me, she keeps talking about confidentiality. I can see that aspect, but it seems relevant and important for me to know what I need to expect, so Iām rather displeased about that
melbaboutown@aussie.zone āØ3ā© āØmonthsā© ago
Thank goodness. But sus out how safe itāll be to complain first. Sometimes itāll get back to the idiot youāre dealing with and aggravate them, then youāre left with them taking it out on you.
Thatās good, I was going to suggest a kettle for your room but thought that youād have to keep refilling a container of water in the kitchen and it would raise questions. Bathroom sink might be an option if youāre desperate and itās frequently disinfected?
Have a think about the bar fridge I guess. Extra fridges do consume extra electricity. But if utilities are being paid for, you have the money to buy it, itāll make this crap time safer/more comfortable and your fridge space needs arenāt largeā¦ it might be good to have one already when you eventually move out on your own. Thatās one less thing you have to buy immediately upon moving. It also means you could hold off on getting a full size fridge until you measure the dimensions in the new place. The one thing Iād consider though is if the energy efficiency might be bad or have become outdated by the time you leave. (Is that a thing?) Could just sell it on once youāre the utility account holder.
Yeahā¦ confidentiality is important but some of these things you really would want to know upfront.
just_kitten@aussie.zone āØ3ā© āØmonthsā© ago
Mate, all I can say is youāre a far stronger person than I am - you are dealing with some of the shittiest living situations and still thinking through it logically despite being sick as well. Itās so shit that you had to come back to this. I apologise for not remembering, but when do you get to finally get to leave the system/age out? Itās within a yearā¦ I hope?? š¬
Baku@aussie.zone āØ3ā© āØmonthsā© ago
I turn 18 in March, but because of transitions and such, I can stay here until Iām 19 if it leads to a better outcome, which seems likely at the moment
just_kitten@aussie.zone āØ3ā© āØmonthsā© ago
Okay, at least you have some options. You seem optimistic that this new dropkick will be booted fairly soon but until he is it sounds like you have to go through more crap. I really wish you didnāt have to but you can always vent in the DT whenever you need toā¦