One hundred public homes will be allocated to our most vulnerable South Australians following their stay in motel accommodation during the state’s seven-day lockdown last month.
The latest support to South Australians experiencing homelessness is in addition to the record 250 people experiencing homelessness housed last year, as part of the Marshall Liberal Government’s swift and strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic to keep people safe.
Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said the state’s new homelessness alliances were working with clients to assist the most vulnerable cohort into housing, including residential and cottage flats.
“While South Australians were in motels again during the latest seven-day lockdown, it gave our homelessness support services another opportunity to work with a large number of people to help them stabilise their lives and support them to move into safe and stable accommodation,” said Minister Lensink.
“Clients will continue to be supported by the new homelessness alliances while in their new housing and this includes help maintaining tenancies and mental health support.
“Thanks to our new homelessness alliances, along with support from the SA Housing Authority, who worked quickly and collaboratively during the state’s latest seven-day lockdown to support our most vulnerable.
“The results speak for themselves and it continues to highlight that if we work together, we’ll get some great outcomes.”
The housing allocations will occur over about four weeks, with hotel/motel accommodation available in the interim for clients that have been matched to a property and are awaiting allocation.
In addition, eight of our most vulnerable cohort from the by-name list are now being accommodated in the new Housing for Health accommodation site at Brooklyn Park – a pilot program and partnership between the SA Housing Authority and SA Health.
There, people who have been rough sleeping are accommodated and given mental health support and drug and alcohol counselling.
“Our new Housing for Health pilot service is also playing a key role in giving our most vulnerable South Australians a chance to turn their lives around and secure long-term housing,” said Minister Lensink.
During the July lockdown, the SA Housing Authority accommodated about 300 South Australian households – all of whom have been assessed, with the most vulnerable cohort support into public housing and others given appropriate housing support.
