Hutt St Centre's Aspire Program

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (15:35): I rise this afternoon to speak on a matter that will be of importance to all South Australians who care about the homelessness crisis, and that is the future of the Aspire Program being run by the Hutt St Centre in Adelaide. This program is not just about providing hope to those who experience chronic homelessness. It also serves as a testament to our state's commitment to social justice, community wellbeing, and the fundamental human right to a safe and stable home—yet the future of this program still hangs in the balance.

The Aspire Program is designed to support individuals aged 18 to 55 who are experiencing chronic homelessness in metropolitan Adelaide. It offers medium to long-term case management, with the goal of helping participants achieve sustainable housing, employment and community connections. The program operates through three critical stages: stabilisation, re-engagement and monitoring. Each of these are tailored to address the unique needs of the participants.

The Aspire Program, I understand, has demonstrated remarkable success in reducing the use of government-funded services such as hospitals and emergency accommodation. Participants have significantly decreased their reliance on these services, leading to substantial service reduction for the government. Moreover, many participants have secured stable housing and employment, showcasing this program's effectiveness in changing lives. This is the kind of program we need to see more of from government.

The Aspire Program is a partnership between the Hutt St Centre, the South Australian government, and various community housing providers. This collaboration ensures that participants can receive the best possible support and resources. I understand the program's initial funding through a social impact bond is an example of its innovative approach and its commitment to achieving measurable outcomes. However, private investment through the bond ceased in June 2024 and now the program is entirely reliant on funding from the South Australian taxpayer: that is, funding by the government. That makes sense, of course, because there is a broad community benefit that flows from funding a program like this.

The key aspect of the Aspire Program is the 'Housing First' principle, which prioritises quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into suitable and permanent housing. This approach has proven to be highly effective, as stable housing provides the foundation for addressing other life challenges. It is really hard to get long-term work, it is really hard to be able to access the support you need, if you do not have a roof over your head. That is fundamental.

The Aspire Program is accessible to individuals who meet specific criteria, ensuring that those most in need receive support. The program's staged referral and intake process allows for a manageable and sustainable approach to assisting up to 524 referrals between December 2021 up to June 2027, but there is a need for ongoing funding.

The Aspire Program is not just a temporary solution but a long-term investment into the wellbeing of our community. Continued government funding is essential to maintain and expand this vital program across the state. Supporting the Aspire Program will not only address the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness, it will also invest in a brighter, more inclusive future for all South Australians.

I understand that the Aspire Program is calling for an additional $3.8 million over the next five years, on top of the current government funding, to ensure that they can really meet the need. Mr Acting President, I submit to you that this is vitally important at this time. We know that our state is in the midst of the worst housing crisis in generations, and I fear that it is only going to get worse unless we see meaningful action from state and federal governments.

Of course, the Greens have been pushing for an increase in the investment in social and affordable housing that we need. We are going to have discussions today about what we can do to activate vacant housing and ensure that some of those are moved onto the long-term rental market. We need to look at rent prices, which are skyrocketing out of control.

The Greens are going to continue to push for action on those things, but we also need to ensure that there is funding for programs that work. The Aspire program is a program that works and is getting meaningful results for people who are experiencing homelessness and so we cannot afford to lose it. Rather than forcing this program to keep going cap in hand to the government year after year for bits of piecemeal funding, I urge the government to provide the funding that is required to provide certainty to this vital service so that we can ensure it meets the needs of this community.