‘Public trust’ broken after DFFH failed to notice woman living with corpse at Geelong property

The housing department has been torched over the “pathetic” neglect of tenants after a man’s body was left to rot inside a commission flat for years, despite his rent still being paid.

The home on Russell St remains empty after the skeletal remains of a man were found. Picture: Alan Barber

The housing department has been torched over the “pathetic” neglect of tenants after a man’s body was left to rot inside a commission flat for potentially years, despite his rent still being paid.

Revelations that a woman was living alongside her elderly brother’s dead corpse under vile conditions have stunned the city, with neighbours accusing the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) of “trying to sweep it under the rug”. 

It’s believed an appointed guardian of his finances had continued paying his rent at the home despite him lying dead under a pile of garbage inside the government-owned asset.

The unit remains vacant more than a year after the man’s remains for found. Picture: Alan Barber

It comes as the DFFH issued a brief response to the startling breakdown “of public trust” more than a year after his remains were removed in a body bag by Victoria Police.

“This is a tragic incident and we send our sincerest condolences to the man’s family and friends,” the statement read.

“Departmental staff offered support at the time to neighbouring residents and family involved.” 

Geelong businesswoman Linda Jenkins, who complained “multiple times” to several government departments about the Russell St unit, said the response lacked compassion.

News Corp understands at least six residents on the street raised concerns with the DFFH, department of health, City of Greater Geelong, Barwon Health and the Environment Protection Authority about the “stench, rats and utter filth” building up around the unit, and the mental welfare of the female tenant.

“Nothing was done,” she said.

One homeowner on the street, who did not want to be named, said the lack of action was “crazy”.

“I can safely say there was no routine inspection or welfare check on that individual for at least a year and possibly more,” he said.

“You have residents raising all these concerns and it falls on deaf ears, you start thinking what the f***.

“It is crazy.”

Pakington Street, Newtown is a stone's throw from the Russell St house of horror. Picture: Alan Barber

Ms Jenkins, who would frequently visit a friend on the street, said “red flags” were raised about the alleged bizarre behaviour of the woman, who was found to be living among feaces, urine and piles of rubbish.

“This is public housing, public assets, these are members of the public and this is the way we treat them?” she said.

“This place has been left to run down until it has been almost uninhabitable, and meanwhile a dead body is inside for all that time.

“No wonder we have a public housing crisis.”

Another concerned resident, Sarah Matthews, said she “begged and begged” DFFH to do a welfare check on the elderly lady after witnessing years of “disturbing and odd” behaviour.

Forensic police required biohazard equipment to remove the body on December 29, 2022, such was the state of the apartment.

The woman was initially arrested but was released without charge over his death.

“To say these two people were completely abandoned by society and our public system is an understatement,” Ms Matthews said.

“The amount of red tape we were met with is not good enough, how can all these government departments not talk to each other?”

Police at the unit on Russell St, Newtown on December 29, 2022.

A CoGG spokesman confirmed council was alerted to several complaints about the property over an extended period of time, which were referred to DFFH who assured them action would be taken.

It’s believed the housing department made an application through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to access the home after failed attempts since 2021.

It is alleged the man may have died years prior, with some claiming he may not have been seen since 2018.

“This is leaving some of the most vulnerable members of our community to just slip through the cracks and end up in these truly terrifying situations,” Ms Matthews said.

“It’s pathetic and unacceptable, and shocking neglect.”

Ms Jenkins said many on the street “just gave up” complaining.

“The saddest thing is it was two years ago we made all those complaints,” she said.

“If you are in a situation where you are worried about a neighbour, or there is something that is not right, just speak up.

“But how do we get people to do that when you are just silenced.”

A room inside the Newtown unit.

Newcomb’s Marty Stevenson said the case “highlights and confirms DFFH’s inability to take action on concerns from neighbours and the public”.

“This scenario of the public raising concerns and being ignored by DFFH is becoming the norm,” he said.

“Reading this story we are going through the same situation, the filth, damage and violent behaviour the community has to put up with and, in this case, the human remains missed by DFFH only further confirms their failures and need for a complete overhaul.”

It’s understood the Geelong housing office was forced to change its systems involving welfare checks as a result of the Newtown tragedy.

The death of the man is still being investigated by police and a Victorian coroner.

The health department was contacted for comment but referred questions to DFFH.

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Originally published as ‘Public trust’ broken after DFFH failed to notice woman living with corpse at Geelong property