Elderly woman who lost house in Whalan explosion moved to temporary housing with restrictions on visitors

Ninette Dawson and her daughter Shareen.  (Supplied)

When an explosion ripped through a row of social housing townhouses at Whalan in Western Sydney, 86-year-old Ninette Dawson lost her home of 17 years.

Since then she has been living in a temporary accommodation facility at Blacktown with women and children fleeing domestic violence, which has restrictions in place that have prevented her family from visiting.

As she speaks to her daughter in Brisbane on the phone, Ninette's voice cracks as she tells her: "I just feel sad today, but then I'm sad every day."

Her daughter Shareen Dawson fights back her own tears and as she tells her mum: "I know, hopefully it won't be too much longer."

Thirty-year-old Mhey Yumol Jasmin's body was recovered from underneath the rubble of the homes a day and a half later after the June 1 that sources have told the ABC is confirmed to have been caused by gas.

The Blacktown facility room was organised for Ninette by the government agency Homes NSW, which has been scrambling to find more permanent accommodation for the 21 residents displaced by the explosion.

The agency says it has permanently placed four Whalan residents in new social housing homes, and told the ABC that 14, including Ninette, are still living in temporary accommodation.

Restrictions on visitors separate families

Shareen said the way the agency has handled the situation is compounding her mother's trauma.

"At the moment my mum is a shell of what she used to be, both physically and mentally," she said.

"She was just put in there and left in limbo.

"It's been really tough on Mum. I try and talk to her as much as I can every day and it's very hard to hear her just breaking down all the time and just crying, saying she wants to go home."

Shareen said the restrictions on visitors has made the past four weeks extremely isolating for her mother.

"I understand she is safe there and she has food but I just don't feel it's the right place for Mum and I don't understand why there is nowhere else to house elderly residents that are in crisis," she said.

Shareen said during that time, Homes NSW has offered her mother several impractical alternative living arrangements that are either far from the support of her community or not modified for her mobility and other needs.

"With Mum being elderly and being in the same area for such a long time she has found that sense of community and to be able to live independently and I just don't want that taken away from her," she said.

Homes NSW takes action after questions raised

Homes NSW has not given answers to questions like whether the Whalan social housing complex will be rebuilt, how long that might take, or whether her mother might be able to move back there one day.

"She would love to go return once they are rebuilt," she said.

"She is really up and down mentally and if she had a timeline of when she knew she would be able to return that would mean the absolute world to her because she'll be going home."

Shareen has also been pushing for Homes NSW to commit to helping furnish the new homes of her mother and other Whalan residents.

"Homes NSW should take a bit more accountability, just be a bit more transparent with everything that's happening, let the residents know every step of the way, " she said.

A day after the ABC put questions to Homes NSW, Shareen received an email from the agency expressing sympathy for her mother's situation.

It offered assistance to "source the essential items she requires" and expressed hope that Ninette might one day be able to return to a home at Waikanda Crescent in the future.

Homes NSW is now organising an occupational therapist to advise on modifications needed for a nearby unit it has offered Ninette, about a five-minute drive from her old home.

But her hopes to return to Waikanda Crescent in the future are far from guaranteed.

"The future use of the site is still to be determined," Homes NSW said in a statement.

Wish to salvage treasured possessions from the rubble

Ninette also wants to salvage some treasured personal possessions from the rubble of her home.

"That would mean the world – one thing in particular is the last birthday card that my brother sent before he passed away three years ago," her daughter said.

A Homes NSW spokesperson confirmed "reasonable attempts will be made to salvage residents personal belongings during the demolition process, however, residents cannot access the demolition site due to safety implications."

"We are working hard to find the remaining residents permanent accommodation that meets their needs as soon as possible."

Shareen hopes the ordeal for her mother ends soon.

"I want her to be rehomed and be able to go back to the life she was used to living. I want her to live again."