It’s the only place Rod could afford to live in Sydney. He may have to leave

When Rod Boynton’s relationship with his partner broke down, his world fell apart.

Unable to afford the rent on their home by himself, he ended up sleeping rough for three weeks, on the streets, on park benches and in shop doorways, which also made keeping his storeman and driver job impossible.

Rod Boynton lives in a Paddington boarding house. He couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.Credit: James Brickwood

Finally, beaten but unbroken, he took refuge in a Salvation Army hostel in Surry Hills, where eager to earn his keep, he volunteered to help around the place.

“They liked me there and offered me a permanent job but told me I’d have to live elsewhere to take it,” said Boynton, now 63. “So that’s when I was shown this boarding house.”

He sits on his bed and glances around his modest room, with its TV, small table, damp patch on the ceiling, and tiny, curtained-off kitchen recess with just a fridge, microwave and portable hot plate, as well as access to two communal toilets shared between eight residents.

“I liked it as soon as I saw it,” he said with a smile. “I’ve been here 11 years now, and I can’t imagine ever living anywhere else.”

Rod has lived in his home for 11 years.Credit: James Brickwood

Or he couldn’t. That is until the row of four privately owned boarding houses on Paddington’s Selwyn Street all fell under the threat of redevelopment from accommodation for 32 men into four luxury houses.

It’s ignited a protest campaign that no one could ever have seen coming, with all the buildings’ neighbours uniting around the men to champion their right to their $200-a-week homes.

Boynton’s best mate and fellow resident Steve Deer, 70, said the reaction had taken their breath away.

“I always thought we didn’t really matter; we were a different class of citizen to everyone else who lives in this area,” said Deer, who’s lived here for 10 and a half years after his relationship broke down and his lawn care and gardening business was killed by bad weather.

Steve Deer is heartened by the Paddington community’s support for the boarding houses.Credit: James Brickwood

“But they proved me wrong. They said we were an important part of the community, and it’s been fantastic the support they’re showing us. It’s absolutely great to be told that we do matter and that people are concerned about us and are doing all they can to look after us. It’s quite amazing.”

Throughout the entire neighbourhood, houses are now displaying over 50 hand-painted banners with messages like, “We stand with our neighbours! Save the boarding houses!” , “Protect our neighbours from homelessness” and “Our neighbours need your support. Help us help them!” A petition has collected more than 10,000 signatures.

Neighbours wandering past greet each of the men by name, shaking their hands and assuring them everyone’s doing as much as they can to help. With the City of Sydney Council rejecting the Development Application to convert the boarding houses, it’s now with the NSW Land & Environment Court.

Local residents have rallied behind their neighbours.Credit: James Brickwood

Campaign co-ordinators Michael Mannix and Will Mrongovius have asked the City of Sydney to consider buying the boarding house, especially with the council recently offering a council car park in Redfern, estimated to be worth $20 million, to a community housing provider for a token $1 to build a not-for-profit aged-care facility.

But when approached by this masthead, a city council spokesperson said, “As this matter is still before the courts, we are unable to provide further comment.”

Greens city councillor Sylvie Ellsmore, chair of the city’s Housing For All Working Group, said, however, that the council should look at buying the boarding houses using developers’ contributions, which should also be increased, especially in rezoned areas.

“The city [council] could buy them and ask someone else, a not-for-profit, to manage them,” she said. “Waverley and Randwick councils have done it [bought older housing], and Canada Bay is discussing it.

Rod doesn’t want to leave his home. Credit: James Brickwood

“Look at the number of boarding houses for sale at the moment! For councils to act is a pretty common way to protect housing, and, sometimes, it’s the only way. At a time when we have so little affordable housing, it’s not prohibitively expensive, and we’d be protecting people who are vulnerable right now.”

The campaign has also requested that the state government passes laws to prevent the conversion of boarding houses into other kinds of homes while imposing a moratorium on rent increases so residents can’t be forced out by stealth.

When asked, Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said the government recognised that any potential loss of housing, especially for vulnerable individuals, was “a significant disservice” to the community.

“Expanding social and affordable housing is a top priority for the NSW government,” she said. “In our recent budget, we allocated $5.1 billion to build 8400 new public homes, in addition to our $528 million homelessness package. This substantial investment will not only improve homelessness services but also ensure proper funding for crisis accommodation.”

“We want to be clear – if you’re struggling, we can find you a safe place to sleep while we work on building more homes to address long-term homelessness.”

Meanwhile, Boynton, Deer and all the other men in the boarding houses are dreading the prospect of being evicted. “It’s like a small village here, where everyone knows each other and looks out for each other,” said Boynton, who was made redundant by the Salvation Army four years ago after service cutbacks.

“I had to go to hospital three times in the last two years, and Steve visited me every single day. I really don’t want to leave, and there’s no way I could afford to rent anywhere else in Sydney. I just want to stay here.”