Townsville City Motel evicts guests from 14 rooms, including those getting homelessness support

Some of Townsville’s most vulnerable people aren’t sure where to sleep tonight after being turfed out of their motel accommodation during a mass eviction. Find out why it happened.

These Townsville City Motel guests have received eviction notices, with some given just days to leave. Picture: Leighton Smith.

A woman battling cancer, a pregnant woman, and young families were among those without a roof over their heads after a massive eviction by a Townsville motel on Monday.

Situated on Bowen Rd, Rosslea, the Townsville City Motel had an agreement with the Australian Red Cross (ARC), who subsidised accommodation to support individuals and families who were homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The motel’s current lessor Rob McLean said as a result of the lease being purchased last month, 14 rooms received eviction notices.

He said a condition of the sale was for the premises to be vacated to allow the new owner to carry out renovations on the motel.

As it was a motel, the guests hadn’t signed tenancy agreements and lengthy notice periods weren’t required.

About 20 angry and worried residents converged on the motel’s carpark on Monday morning, comparing eviction dates and trying to figure out what to do next.

One of the evictees, Samantha, a single parent with two kids who worked in community services, said they were told to find alternative accommodation at 4.30pm on Friday.

Struggling with mental health issues, Kate Benson, her husband, and four children were given this list of accommodation providers to contact by ARC. Picture: Leighton Smith.

People who were behind on their rents said they were being told to move out immediately while others said they had until Wednesday to leave.

“Where do we get help on the weekend? We’re homeless. Everyone here doesn’t have anywhere to go, otherwise we wouldn’t be here,” Samantha said.

“I’ve been here this will be my seventh week. I’m out tomorrow. We’re desperate.

“There are many families here who have mental health issues of their own, the parents and also neurotypical children with special needs, mine included.”

She said people were being knocked back from motels, saying they were booked up because of the footy, while others wouldn’t accept ARC clients.

Mr McLean denied that the guests were being “thrown out on the street”, saying that those who didn’t owe money had 14 days to leave, and the ARC was assisting the evictees.

“We’re a motel, like every guest, I need to pay as well. If you don’t pay, you don’t stay,” he said.

A new lessor is taking over the Townsville City Motel, with residents ordered to leave for renovations. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“We have government agencies to assist. The whole property needs to be cleaned up before it’s taken over (in the coming weeks).”

An Australian Red Cross spokeswoman said their primary concern was for the wellbeing of their clients.

“We are currently assisting them by providing support and where appropriate, paying for accommodation costs at a range of motels in the local area,” she said.

“This list of motels has been provided to our clients and will be available until more permanent accommodation options are identified.

“In the meantime, Red Cross will continue to work with local accommodation providers,

support programs, and the Queensland Government to find suitable and safe housing solutions.”

In January, the Adventurers Backpackers Resort on Palmer St informed their long-term guests that the business was being sold and under contract, giving them eight weeks to find new places to live.

The Townsville Bulletin was unable to contact the new owner, who was understood to be in Pakistan.

Originally published as Townsville City Motel evicts guests from 14 rooms, including those getting homelessness support