An Adelaide woman who faces homeless with her severely disabled son was told by a public servant to use “spells” to “manifest” a home because of a shortage of public housing.
Katie Fattel, 40, has until September to find a new home because of extensive water damage in her current Woodville private rental.
And she has been advised the private rental system cannot offer the home modifications her son requires.
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Four-year-old Cassian lives with acquired cerebral palsy and cannot support his legs or neck without aid.
Fattel has told 7NEWS that, for her son, a home “is a matter of life or death”.
When Fattel applied for public housing in January, her case worker helped escalate her to category one in terms of need.
But after questioning how long it would take for an offer, the SA Housing Trust employee sent Fattel website links to New Age “manifestation spells” to get a house.
She was also directed to places where she could buy and pitch a tent.
Fattel said that, upon receiving the emails, her “heart sank” and she was in disbelief.
“Without a house, Cassian won’t survive,” Fattel said.
“He relies on multiple life support devices, he has very expensive equipment. He requires 24/7 care.”
Fattel said her caseworker was a “lovely person” who should not be fired.
But she said the incident pointed to the desperation of everyone involved in the housing crisis.
“I think she just didn’t know what to do… I think (she) was well-meaning,” Fattel said about her caseworker.
“She saw Cassian and I in crisis, she knows our situation in a way that the people at the top don’t.
“They’re so far removed from the reality of the people in crisis.
“The blame needs to be applied on multiple levels.”
SA Housing Minister Tom Koutsantonis and Minister for Human Services Nat Cook both apologised to Fattel for the response she was given regarding her “dire” circumstances.
Cook said Fattel had been escalated to a category one need for public housing, which meant she could wait at least seven months for a house.
“Everything possible is being done to ensure that Katie has a housing outcome,” Cook said.
“She needs a larger family home, she needs to maintain the community supports that Cassian has in place.
“So there definitely are some complexities in relation to securing the appropriate outcome.”
Cook said the manifestation advice given to Fattel did “not meet expectation”.
“That is not the type of response I have seen ever before … and I know the department will be providing the education and support needed for the worker and other workers delivering responses to people.”