HOMELESSNESS

In reply to the Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (2 June 2009).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Housing has provided the following information:

The Report 'Demand for SAAP accommodation by homeless people 2007-08', released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicated that nationally, 55 per cent of the 436 people requiring immediate, new Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) accommodation were unable to be accommodated by the end of the day.

South Australia compares favourably to the national figure, less than half, in percentage terms than that recorded nationally and two thirds lower in percentage term than the highest State figure.

South Australia is tackling the issue of homelessness on a number of fronts to ensure there is enough accommodation for homeless South Australians during the winter period.

Through the Crisis Accommodation Program, South Australia has committed resources to major rebuilding and renovation of existing facilities both in the inner city and regionally. Some of these include the complete renovation of the Afton Boarding House, the extensive renovation of the St Vincent de Paul Men's Shelter, the completion of a new facility for women and children escaping domestic violence in Port Lincoln and the development of new facilities for young women and their infants at Louise Place.

Some of the current projects have a particular focus on families and children. These include the St John's Youth Service redevelopment, Ceduna Safe House, the Lakeview Transitional Accommodation Facility in Port Augusta and the South East Regional Domestic Violence Centre.

In addition to constructing new and renovated accommodation facilities, Housing SA is committed to early intervention strategies in order to prevent people becoming homeless. This is coupled with support to enhance the opportunities for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to become independent of the homelessness system.

Homelessness is funded through two funding streams involving Commonwealth and State matching funds. The National Affordable Housing Agreement provides approximately $32 million per year for homelessness programs to 30 June 2013 and the new National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness, will provide $59.9m over four years from 2009-10.

Key homelessness projects funded to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless include the Intensive Tenancy Support Program which will be extended from public housing to all tenancy types and has a focus to prevent evictions. The Private Rental Liaison Officer Program which assists clients to access and sustain accommodation in the private rental market and the Schools Assertive Outreach Program which enhances the prospect that school children who remain connected with family and school avoid entering the chronic homeless population.

Additionally, the Family Advice and Information Referral Service (FAIRS), works in unison with the domestic violence and family homelessness services to provide accommodation to those who are homeless or at imminent risk of being homeless. Aligned with this referral service, intensive support is provided to families on the FAIRS wait-list to assist them to sustain present tenancies or identify accommodation options as a matter of urgency. Three of these wait-list programs are funded and non-government agencies provide the service in the North, West and Southern metropolitan areas.

Lastly, South Australia has recently conducted an inner city rough sleeper count. The first count was in June 2007 and found there were 108 rough sleepers. At the latest count on 5 May 2009, 53 people were identified as rough sleeping in the inner city; a reduction of over 50 per cent in 2 years.