By Charlene Gatt
FOOTSCRAY residents are too scared to let their kids out to play after learning they may be living among paedophiles and sex offenders.
One single mother, who did not wished to be named, has written a letter of objection after reading a Star article that revealed two rooming houses managed by Yarra Community Housing in Beevers St were believed to house criminals and paedophiles.
Both houses stand within 200 metres of the Maribyrnong City Council-run Angliss Children’s Centre and Seelaf Square, a playground.
The resident told Star last week she planned on sending the letter of objection to Yarra Community House and the Stepping Up Consortium after getting other residents to sign.
“As our community is made up of mostly women, small children and the elderly, the allegation of paedophiles and sex offenders in our community is very frightening,” the woman said.
“In the time since the allegations have been made, we have felt like prisoners in our own homes, we are afraid to take our children in the park to play.
“We fear that allowing or taking our children outside may be considered parading them and alerting would-be attackers to their schedules and whereabouts.
“Finally, we are experiencing the thoughts of every parents’ nightmare – that our children will be abducted, raped or murdered.
“We do not feel safe.
“They would not put this in Yarraville or Williamstown. That’s the thing that angers me the most – that because we’re down the bottom rung of the ladder, that means we’re a lower class of people and that’s just not true.”
Yarra Community Housing CEO Rob Leslie would not confirm or deny the presence of criminals or paedophiles at any of the properties last month.
