Councils call for a less city-centric focus on homelessness
Suburban leaders are calling on the State Government to stay focused on growing homelessness throughout the city, not just in the CBD.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Revealed: One in four homeless are employed
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Councils are urging the State Government not to be city-centric as it overhauls its homelessness strategy.
As the Government works on a 10-year-strategy to deal with the “broken housing system”, the Local Government Association has asked for outer suburbs and regional areas to be a key focus.
LGA president Sam Telfer told The Advertiser homelessness was a growing concern not limited to metropolitan areas. “One of the challenges in regional areas is that it can be harder for people to access services to resolve issues that can lead to them experiencing homelessness,” Mr Tefler said.
“Limited access to information and support in these towns and communities can also make it difficult for people experiencing homelessness to get the help they need.
“Increased investment in support services across the state would be a step in the right direction in addressing the challenges of regional homelessness.”
The latest ABS data for homelessness in SA showed Port Adelaide had the highest proportion of people deemed homeless, which incorporates overcrowded housing.
Other hot spots are the CBD, Salisbury, Onkaparinga and Charles Sturt council districts
Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink told The Advertiser the circumstances leading to homelessness were much the same for all areas.
“Often people will move to areas where they believe they can access services more easily, such as the city or larger regional centres,” she said.
“The challenges for outer Adelaide and regional areas are being considered as part of the Government’s new Housing and Homelessness Strategy.
“The new strategy will map out a 10-year vision to improve outcomes across the entire housing continuum, including crisis homelessness services, social housing, affordable housing and the general housing market.”
Ms Lensink said the strategy would be released later this year, and that the SA Housing Authority funded 35 organisations.