“I’m not even classed as a number anymore,” is what single mum Billie-Jo Baker told the Weekender after months of struggle in public housing in Kingswood.
The trouble began at the end of last year when a rotten smell began rising from the drains of her second-storey bathroom.
Homes NSW sent plumbers to the residence, and they found the stench was caused by a lack of water flow.
“They gave the diagnosis saying that they had to drop the piping down so that the water can flow out and not sit in the pipes,” Baker said.
“They explained that all the hair and gunk doesn’t wash off, it sits there, and that’s what’s causing the smell coming up through the drains.
“They were able to access and cut a pipe out of the bath, but they can’t access the shower pipes because they go through the main beams of the structure of the house.”
To access the pipes, workers had to create holes in the downstairs dining room ceiling, rendering the room unusable.
“I can’t really access the dining area due to the holes in the ceiling. We’ve had to move everything over into the lounge room like the chairs and table,” Baker explained.
“Now we can’t access our lounge to sit and watch TV.”
The only item left on the floor of the dining room is a bucket, which catches water dripping down from the cracks in the bathroom tiles.
And despite the work that’s been done, the foul stench continues to fill the house.
“Before we have a shower or a bath, I have to run at least 10 buckets of water down the drain of the shower to try and stop the stink from coming up; I also do it before my son sits in the bath so he’s not breathing in the fumes,” Baker stated.
Baker is concerned the fumes are impacting the health of herself, her eight-year-old son, and their pets.
“There’s constant sneezing, coughing, blowing my nose, throwing up,” Baker claimed.
“I’m throwing up constantly and I’m a single mum, I need to physically be there for my boy, but this house is killing me slowly – that’s what it feels like.”
The small family have begged for temporary accommodation from Homes NSW while repairs are being made but have had no luck.
A spokesperson has assured the Weekender that Homes NSW takes its responsibility as the landlord for public housing very seriously and is looking into the issue.
“In this instance, a tenant reported a smell, which was investigated by maintenance contractors and Homes NSW staff,” the statement said.
“A slow flowing shower waste pipe in the upstairs bathroom was pinpointed as the cause and once identified the waste was replaced within one business day.
“Further repairs are scheduled to be completed to the lounge room ceiling. A maintenance contractor will speak directly to the tenant to arrange a suitable time for this work to be completed.
“It is expected these repairs will be finalised in the coming weeks.”
Since the statement was issued, Baker has been informed a bathroom renovation will take place, but reported temporary housing is still off the cards.
“My son’s got sensory issues due to his autism. His constant runny nose and constant diarrhoea isn’t fun,” Baker stated.
Editor’s note: After publication of this story, Homes NSW has reached out to Billie-Jo and offered her family temporary accommodation.
Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.