Homelessness

In reply to the Hon. R.A. SIMMS ().18 May 2022).

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): The Minister for Human Services has advised:

The Malinauskas Labor government promised more than $180 million for housing and homelessness at the 2022 election.

This includes $177.5 million in additional capital funding for the South Australian Housing Trust to build 400 new homes, bring 350 vacant properties back up to standard so they can be homes and conduct a maintenance blitz on 3,000 homes. 150 of the new homes will be built in regional areas.

The 400 new homes will include a dedicated 50-unit complex with onsite supports to help people exiting homelessness. The onsite supports are backed by a commitment of $4 million over four years and we have also provided an additional $6 million to Catherine House, St Vincent de Paul and the Hutt St Centre to boost homelessness supports in the CBD.

The Albanese federal Labor government has also committed to a $10 billion Housing Futures Fund that will deliver 30,000 social and affordable homes over five years and I look forward to working with federal Labor to ensure that South Australia maximises outcomes from this initiative.

We are reviewing the Emergency Accommodation Program that is currently spending almost $10 million per year on motel accommodation for people with nowhere else to go. While this program provides critical shelter, parents with children need cooking facilities and places for children to play that motel rooms can't offer.

The Malinauskas Labor government has also committed to establishing a task force to examine the housing challenges faced by older women.

The building industry is facing historic challenges–many brought about by the Liberal Party's HomeBuilder scheme that gave out $25,000 grants with no requirement for funds to support more accessible or affordable housing. These grants simply made already expensive homes even more unaffordable and have caused massive delays for tradies to undertake other work. In view of this, we are exploring innovative housing options that can be delivered faster and with less reliance on traditional industry supply chains.