LIMESTONE Coast welfare agency ac.care has called on governments to invest more in social housing and mental health services to support hundreds of people without a home or on the brink of homelessness in regional South Australia.
Over the past financial year, ac.care’s homelessness service worked with 1304 clients, housing 95pc of people who approached the agency for assistance across eastern regional South Australia.
This included 430 people in various forms of housing, including private rentals, ac.care directly supported to maintain their existing tenancy and avoid the risk of becoming homeless.
However, ac.care homelessness and community services manager Trish Spark, pictured right, said a lack of affordable properties for rent or sale in the regions, along with a public housing shortage, increased pressure on vulnerable people.
“We work with people in very challenging situations, including families with young children and trying to ensure they continue to have a safe home or access to emergency accommodation at an appropriate regional property if they are already sleeping rough is increasingly difficult due to limited housing options,” Ms Spark said.
Her comments back this week’s National Homelessness Week campaign, with the agency supporting the theme of Everybody Needs a Home.
Homelessness Australia is calling for greater government investment in social housing to construct 30,000 social housing properties nationally over four years to create jobs, stimulate the economy and help end homelessness.
“We welcome federal and state government efforts in this area, but more needs to be done as sadly the lack of affordable housing continues to put enormous pressure on people struggling to maintain a safe home,” Ms Spark said.
South Australian Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink said the government’s $550m housing and homelessness strategy would prevent people falling into homelessness and ensure public housing is available for the most vulnerable.
“COVID-19 highlights more than ever we need to ensure our housing and homelessness system is working well, so that more South Australians can get long-term, safe and stable accommodation – and keep it,” she said.
“Recognising the state needs more affordable housing, our new $550m strategy will deliver more than 20,000 affordable housing outcomes over the next decade and includes a $400m commitment towards delivering 1000 new affordable homes by 2025 for low and moderate income South Australians – including homes in the regions.”
Ms Spark also highlighted a rise in unaddressed mental health issues was a growing contributor to homelessness issues in regional areas and exacerbated issues for people struggling to maintain tenancies or secure a property.
“The lack of adequate mental health services in regional areas continues to pose challenges for vulnerable people, amplifying disadvantage and the risk of homelessness,” she said.
“There is a desperate need for long-term, supported mental health facilities in regional South Australia for those who have difficulty living independently and sustaining tenancies.”
