Concerns for resident with MS facing eviction from Mullum pod village

A young man with multiple sclerosis and ongoing flood trauma is facing eviction from the Mullumbimby Pod Village, amid claims that administrators are not qualified to handle people with complex health issues.

Carol McElhinney is Dylan’s aunt and the registered nominee for his NDIS Plan, who also works in the disability field. She says there has been an ‘ongoing battle’ with management of the pod village over her nephew, which she says stems from the facility’s inability to handle people suffering trauma and other issues.

Dylan has been living in the pod village since April 2023. Ms McElhinny told The Echo the problem began when her nephew requested to change to a more shaded pod, as people with MS have difficulty controlling body temperature. When this request was refused, due to the rigidity of the rules, it led to Dylan becoming frustrated and angry.

Since then, he’s had a series of breaches ‘for him being upset’, leading to more stress and more complaints, particularly from onsite security. She says those in charge lack the required expertise to deal with the situation, with a need for allied health professionals on site.

Eviction threat

Now Dylan may be evicted, or forced to move to another pod village in a different town (possibly in Lismore, Ballina or Pottsville), away from his health carers and support network.

Ms McElhinney says the managers of the pod village have said they have letters from residents who say they are frightened of Dylan, and claim that their staff are also unsafe, while she says there are letters in support of her nephew, who she describes as fundamentally ‘a very benevolent young man, who really wants to help people’.

After cancelled or postponed meetings to discuss the situation, Dylan now faces eviction in the very short term.

As an example of one of the breaches, Ms McElhinney said her nephew put a lock on his door (an illegal modification), although an unrepaired installation flaw in the pod meant it was impossible to lock otherwise, which was causing him anxiety and aggravating his sleeping problems.

She says ongoing tensions with security guards are another problem, but ‘you cannot kick someone with a disability out into the street.’

What next?

Carol McElhinney says she will be escalating her complaints up the line to the Reconstruction Authority and Premier Chris Minns if the situation cannot be resolved, with the possibility that other disabled people in pod villages are also being inappropriately handled by managers.

‘Why are they plopping traumatised people in these villages suffering all sorts of mental health or health related illnesses, with admin people who have had absolutely no experience in dealing with people like this?’ she asks.

Ms McElhinney is calling for occupational therapists with appropriate experience to be onsite.

The Echo has sought comment on this situation from the Regional Manager at Northern Rivers Housing, James Robinson-Gale, but none has yet been received.

*** UPDATE: The Echo has just been informed that Dylan is being evicted immediately. He’s been offered temporary motel accommodation as an emergency stopgap.