Sophie Conlon
There are around 150 homeless people living in Mount Gambier/ Berrin and the City of Mount Gambier is working through several plans to support those sleeping rough.
This was revealed at the March council meeting after councillor Paul Jenner asked what council was doing to rectify the increasing issue.
“Homelessness is a complex issue and one which is increasingly apparent on the streets of Mount Gambier,” he said.
“Agencies resourced to provide support have limits to how much they are funded for and able to provide, given the compounding issues of limited general rental availability, a tight housing market, lack of emergency or crisis accommodation.”
Cr Jenner said he had seen people sleeping rough in public places, sleeping in vehicles or camping at an increasing rate and was concerned for their welfare.
In response general manager corporate and regulatory services Jane Fetherstonhaugh said council staff had recently met with SAPOL and ac.care to discuss the “social challenges within the Cave Gardens Precinct including the Town Hall and library”.
“Discussions centred on issues such as homelessness, concerning behaviour, and alcohol misuse in the vicinity,” she said.
“SAPOL indicated that merely relocating individuals would not resolve the problem; however, they committed to intervening in cases of disorderly conduct.”
Ms Fetherstonhaugh said most of the homeless population was actively seeking temporary housing and others were just passing through the city.
“Some of these individuals are just passing through and generally leave when the weather turns colder,” she said.
She said ac.care offered tents for those who needed them, but there was a lack of free camping in the city and many homeless people were turned away from caravan parks- even if they could pay.
General manager city infrastructure Barbara Cernovskis said council was progressing with a Local Affordable Housing Plan, with it expected to be endorsed for community consultation by council in May.
According to the SA Housing Authority, a Local Affordable Housing Plan can help reduce housing stress, attract workers and have positive effects on the labour market.
Finally, in answer to Cr Jenner’s question, council chief executive officer Sarah Philpott said mayor Lynette Martin was drafting a letter to relevant government authorities after the adoption of council’s recently adopted Partnership Priorities and Advocacy 2024 – 2025 plan.
Housing was included as a key issue within the document, which said economic growth was compromised by housing access.
“Council is exploring implementation models with the private and non-government sectors to facilitate access to housing for incoming residents to work and invest in the community,” the document read.
“A key step is upgrading the existing housing stock to increase the supply of affordable housing provided and determining the viability of including affordable homes as a requirement of new housing estates and
developments.
“This would help ensure people on low incomes are not priced out of the market or put at risk and would facilitate workforce planning with an adequate housing supply.”
