‘Its services are critical’: Plea for Hutt St Homeless Centre expansion approval
When Paul Langdon found himself homeless, the Hutt St Centre was his ‘lifeline’ for support. He has backed the centre’s $2.2 million expansion, which has been recommended for approval on Monday.
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After leaving his job “without a plan B”, Paul Langdon then found himself homeless and living on the streets about five months ago.
The 52-year-old could not get access to Centrelink payments because he had no valid form of identification, leaving him vulnerable with no support.
He turned to the Hutt St Centre and has since embraced its services, calling them the “lifeline” he needed during the “bleak” stage of his life.
“I was on the street for a month before I went to the Hutt St Centre … it was a brave step for me to go there,” Mr Langdon says.
“I needed someone to support me and find my way back out of this.
“I think that month before I went I was just in a state of shock or something – trying to ‘unfuddle’ my mind about how I even ended up in this situation.”
As the centre continues to help Mr Langdon find his way, he is hopeful its proposed $2.2 million expansion gets the green light on Monday night.
The upgrade includes internal demolition, a new front foyer, rear extension, fencing and pergola, with Adelaide City Council staff saying the “alterations to the building are considered a positive outcome for the street”.
“I support this expansion absolutely … its services are critical,” Mr Langdon says.
The centre has come under fire in recent years for alleged anti-social behaviour, however it denies those claims.
Acting on behalf of the centre, lawyer James Hilditch, of Hilditch Lawyers, wrote to the council that the centre had become “frustrated when its clients are immediately and readily blamed for anti-social behaviour”.
The report also included comments made by SA Police poverty select committee hearing in September where officers said they felt “sorry” for the centre and it had been incorrectly blamed for crime.
Mr Langdon, now living in a city hotel under an SA Government initiative to support the homeless during the pandemic, says the majority of people using the centre were doing the right thing.
“We know a lot of people who are homeless have mental health conditions and probably drug and alcohol issues … and there are some people that present at Hutt St in those categories,” Mr Langdon says.
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“But I have never witnessed or experienced anything that I would describe as ‘are you for real?’ or ‘that behaviour is just not on’ in my five months.”
The council received 14 representations against the proposal, some who will speak at the meeting on Monday night.
The Advertiser reported earlier this month that critics of the Hutt St Centre ramped up attacks on the homeless support service, labelling it “poisonous” as they lobby to block its future expansion.
Hutt St Centre chief executive Chris Burns declined to comment ahead of the meeting.
Adelaide City Council Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the plans would “make the centre work better”
“I know there has been issues around the centre and these plans may somewhat relieve those on the street … like discouraging loitering at the front,” Ms Verschoor said.
Shelter SA executive director Alice Clark, who is supportive of the centre’s proposal, expected homelessness to increase during the pandemic.
She said the expansion would address the issue, while alleviate concerns on the street.
“The Hutt St Centre is actually quite an old place and I think they are … is easing perception in the community there is some sort of problem,” Dr Clark said.
Hutt St Centre chief executive Chris Burns declined to comment ahead of the meeting.