The Hutt Street Centre on code red for homeless for Australia Day long weekend extreme heat

THE Hutt Street Centre has been flooded with donations as they and other homeless care organisations prepare to work around the clock during the extreme heat forecast in the next few days.

THE Hutt Street Centre has been flooded with donations as they and other homeless care organisations prepare to work around the clock during the extreme heat forecast in the next few days.

With temperatures expected to again soar past 40C, a code red has been issued to provide a sanctuary to those who need it.

This means the regular hours at the centre, usually 7am-1pm, will be pushed back right through to the next morning.

The centre’s development and partnerships manager Mike Francis said they had recently received aid from generous members of the public, including 1500 bottles of water from one businessman.

But while the donations are always appreciated, he said it’s important to remember homelessness is a year-round issue impacting many South Australians.

The Hutt Street Centre provides nearly 1000 meals a week, showers, medical support and about 35 other services.

They have on site nurses who had more than 3100 visitations during the last 12 months, which is about 35 per cent more than the year before.

And it’s not simply up to governmental policy or intervention to help those who are disadvantaged, Mr Francis said.

“Everyone can do more, everyone in society.”

He said food and clothing donations were always appreciated and kind, but financial support was needed to provide those in need with expert care.

“With backing and support like that (money) we can take on more social workers, we can provide more services and we can get people in to housing and employment.

Mr Francis said there were about 6000 people currently homeless in South Australia but the centre is only capable of caring for about 2000 a year.

“So there’s a lot of people who aren’t accessing our services and need to be made aware of our services and what we can do for them.”

A spokesperson for Housing SA said support would be in place in centres across the state.

“As well as extended hours for accommodation services, homelessness service staff will be actively looking for people sleeping rough to connect them with services, check on their wellbeing and provide food, water and sunscreen as needed,” they said.

“The regional centres of Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Whyalla, Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Port Lincoln, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge and the Riverland will be activating their local Code Red responses to support people sleeping rough.”

The Hutt Street Centre will be open from 7am Friday until 9am Saturday.

Baptist Care SA will at 11-19 Millers Court will open at 10am Saturday until 7am Monday.

“Fred’s Van will help with meals on Sunday from 6pm. HYPA Trace-a-Place at 135 Currie Street is a homelessness service specifically for young people, and will be open between 11am and 5pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” the Housing SA spokesperson said.

“As well as extended hours for accommodation services, homelessness service staff will be actively looking for people sleeping rough to connect them with services, check on their wellbeing and provide food, water and sunscreen as needed.”