Record numbers seeking food, shelter at Adelaide’s Hutt Street Centre this Christmas
Not long ago, many of these South Australians were comfortable, warm and well-fed. As Christmas looms, all of that has changed for hundreds.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
More people than ever have sought food and support from one of the city’s well-known homeless shelters in the lead up to Christmas this year.
A record 178 people passed through the doors of the Hutt Street Centre on Monday, and it is expecting its largest crowd, of about 200 people, for Christmas Day lunch.
A growing number, including families with young children, are finding themselves homeless for the first time, centre chief executive officer Chris Burns said.
“You can see the fear and the terror in their eyes,” he told the Sunday Mail.
“These are people who never, ever thought ‘What would I do if I became homeless?’.
“They were comfortable living in a rented apartment a month ago, then their landlord put up their rent.
“As each interest rate increase occurred, three or four weeks later we would see an influx of people.”
However, Mr Burns was heartened that South Australians who “have noticed that there are more people experiencing homelessness” and have money or goods to spare were still donating to the Hutt Street Centre.
“Even in the tough times, people are more generous,” he said.
Each week about 20 new people seek help from the Hutt Street Centre for the first time, up from about 10 a year ago.
On average, about 150 people pass through the centre each day, up from 120 a year ago.
About 70 per cent of them report some kind of mental health concern, Mr Burns said.
“Disconnected from your family and friends, you don’t have a roof over your head, you lose your employment, it's a rapid downward spiral,” he said.
“That instantly starts generating mental health issues.
“We see it regularly, people who are just mentally unwell as a consequence of their circumstances.
“But getting mental health support at the moment is particularly difficult. It’s very rare and very expensive.”
Australian Medical Association SA president John Williams said there was “at least a 12 week wait” to see a psychologist through the public health system.
“To get to see a psychiatrist in Adelaide is next to impossible,” Dr Williams said.
“If a mild depression is not dealt with then it may become a severe depression and then people might be a risk to themselves.”
A GP based in Port Lincoln, Dr Williams added that there was a shortage of at least 12 psychiatrists across regional SA.
SA Health says the number of mental health presentations to Emergency Departments has almost doubled over the past 15 years and a new Urgent Mental Health Care Centre in the CBD has seen more than 6500 people in its first two years of operation.
The state government has committed more than $57m to non-government organisations over the next four years to support vulnerable South Australians facing higher costs and $44m over five years to ensure concessions – such as on energy, water and heating and cooling costs – keep pace with rising inflation.
Another $5m has been allocated to food relief organisations and financial counselling services.
Join the conversation
Loxton pair arrested as SA Police swoop in drug raid
A man and a woman faced court after various drugs for sale were allegedly found on their north eastern suburbs property on Monday.
Read more
Glam couple’s fast food fail as ATO orders wind-up
It was started in Adelaide by a glamorous couple – now the national fast food chain’s SA stores have been closed as the ATO pursues the franchisor over debts.
Read more