Terrified residents of SA Housing Trust complex Anne Close tell of a surge in drugs and violent crime

A woman’s non-suspicious death has left residents feeling unsafe in a complex in Adelaide’s south that is plagued by drugs, theft and violent crime.

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For months, Christie Downs man Johnathon Ford has issued grim warnings about life in a squalid multi-unit complex plagued by drugs and antisocial behaviour in Adelaide’s south.

“It’s been a long time coming. Someone was bound to die,” he said.

On Wednesday, his chilling prediction became reality when a 43-year-old woman was found dead in the SA Housing Trust complex known as Anne Close.

An investigation found Laurel Floyd’s death was not suspicious but Mr Ford hoped the tragedy would spur authorities to act on the violence and drug use he regularly witnesses around his home – and secure him a transfer to another location.

Jonathon Ford is a resident in Housing Trust complex in Christies Downs.

The scene on Rufus Crescent, near the Housing Trust complex Anna Close in Christies Downs.

Mr Ford lives in one of 42 units that make up Anne Close - 14 of which are currently vacant.

Windows and handles are missing from some of the doors and graffiti has been sprayed along many parts of the complex.

Inside, shopping trolleys, broken furniture and other rubbish has been strewn throughout some of the vacant units seen by The Advertiser through wide open doors.

A Housing Trust spokesperson said they were aware of the general condition of properties at the site.

“We are working to bring them back to a better condition, and 12 properties are ready for allocating now,” the spokesperson said.

The housing trust complex Anne Close in Christie Downs where a woman was found dead on Wednesday.

DRUGS AND VIOLENCE

Several residents told The Advertiser they didn’t feel safe living in the complex. Mr Ford said drug use, screaming and loud music were a daily occurrence there.

“There is always people smashing stuff … furniture, weapons, people screaming, music blaring at all hours of the day and night,” he said. “There is excessive drug use.

“More often than not, I’m waking up to violence anywhere between 3.30 in the morning to seven o’clock in the morning.

“If I need to go take the trash out, I need to be packing something to defend myself with. I cannot walk three steps out of my door without having to check behind me.”

In recent months, Mr Ford said his window has been smashed, the door to his building nearly kicked in and a pile of needles left just outside his home.

He said he had made more than 70 phone calls to the police and numerous reports to other government agencies since moving into the SA Housing Trust flat nine months ago but little had been done.

A discarded syringe at the housing trust complex Anne Close in Christie Downs.

‘I JUST WANT OUT’

Residents say at least three deaths have occured in the complex over the past decade.

In 2016, a man died after being stabbed in the neck in a home invasion but locals say there have been other violent incidents.

One resident, Kathryn Drummond, believes she may be safer in a jail cell than at Anne Close.

In the past six and a half years of living there, she said her unit has been robbed and she has witnessed other horrors.

“It’s literally horrible living in this place,” she said. “It’s just nothing but yelling, screaming, fighting, people getting bashed …you just get no sleep. I just want out”.

An vacant apartment in the Housing Trust complex Anne Close in Christie Downs.

Ms Drummond, like several others, have been asking Housing SA for a transfer.

She said earlier the agency offered to move her into another apartment within the Anne Close complex but were now finally working on finding her a home in another location.

A Housing Trust spokesperson said antisocial behaviour was not tolerated, and tenants who perpetrated such behaviour would be evicted.

“Tenants are given warnings and then we proceed to the SA Civil Administration Tribunal for eviction,” the spokesperson said.

“Any criminal activity warrants and instant eviction application to SACAT.”

A damaged communal laundry in the housing trust complex Anne Close in Christie Downs.

‘GOT TO LIVE SOMEWHERE’

Resident Mark Rowe moved into Anne Close in 2018 after years of waiting for housing to become available.

Old injuries from a car accident and earlier illness cost him his job as a mechanic in 2009, forcing him out of the private rental market.

Since moving into the Christie Downs unit, Mr Rowe said he heard screaming on a regular basis and was aware of other wrongdoing.

Housing trust complex Anne Close in Christie Downs.

“There’s been stolen cars brought in, stolen bikes,” he said

On Wednesday night, his red bike - his only means of transport - was stolen from the stairwell.

He said living in the complex made him anxious at times but “you got to live somewhere”.

His family have been urging him to leave but Mr Rowe believes trying to get a transfer is futile.

“I haven’t tried, mainly because there’s such a housing crisis,” he said.

Originally published as Terrified residents of SA Housing Trust complex Anne Close tell of a surge in drugs and violent crime