A homeless person’s few belongings stuck in the Carisbrook, which Otago Daily Times exposed as one of the city’s “Houses of Horror”. Photos / Stephen Jaquiery
A homeless person’s few belongings stuck in the Carisbrook, which Otago Daily Times exposed as one of the city’s “Houses of Horror”. Photos / Stephen Jaquiery
Jacky Cheung, the owner of the slum-house former Carisbrook Hotel, slapped three homeless people in his building with hand-written eviction notices last night — hours after government officials swooped in again to scrutinise conditions.
Cheung is also refusing to let homeless woman Jenny*, who has nowleft the building, collect her belongings unless she pays him $500.
He said the homeless people in his building must leave within 28 days and give him 28 days’ notice if they find somewhere else to go.
Cheung claimed the authorities told him this was the law.
Neil*, one of the homeless people, said “this is unacceptable”.
Jenny — the woman who is being refused her belongings — is a rape victim who has struggled with mental health challenges, addiction and has epilepsy.
Like the other people being evicted, she was pointed to the Carisbrook by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD)’s Work and Income office, after becoming homeless.
Jenny, who had just been released from a hospital mental health ward, said Work and Income gave her no other housing options.
It took her a month to find a better boarding house and move out of the Carisbrook.
However, when she contacted Cheung to arrange to collect her few belongings — including a mattress and bed base she had to provide herself — Cheung sent her a string of text messages saying she should have given him “28 days’ notice to move out”, adding “we are not free store room”.
Cheung said she “must pay before you can move”, demanding “total 500 dollar must pick up before 28 August”.
When the Otago Daily Times visited the building yesterday, there were eight government officials scrutinising its state.
Cheung was being quizzed by two Tenancy Services staff.
Boarders at the Carisbrook were served with eviction notices last night. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery
He admitted to the ODT his $500 demand — calling it a “storage fee”.
Cheung also admitted he had not issued any tenancy paperwork to Jenny and was unrepentant about his accommodation, which offered no beds, heaters, fridge, cooking or washing facilities.
When asked if standards would improve, he said “I can’t promise anything”.
When told by an official that he must get a cooker, he said he would “by Monday”, but then went on to later serve the eviction notices last night.
Jenny — who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder — said the Carisbrook had traumatised her further.
There were fights when she was there and she was intimidated by a man.
“It is awful. Cold, damp, dirty, gross, not fit for a dog.
“It does not matter who you are or what you have done.”
“I kept trying to think ‘at least I have a roof over my head’, but after a few days I thought I would rather be on the street.”
She said she had struggled to eat, relying on the nearby fish and chip shop.
Otago Daily Times exposed Carisbrook’s appalling facilities as one of the city’s “Houses of Horror”, which led to the place being branded as 'not a suitable option' for homeless people. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery
People in the Carisbrook have been using gas camp stoves in their rooms.
