The Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced that 100 public homes are to be allocated to the State’s most vulnerable people following their stay in motel accommodation during last month’s seven-day lockdown.
Minister for Human Services, Michelle Lensink said the support was part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic to keep people safe.
Ms Lensink said new homelessness alliances were working with clients to assist the most vulnerable cohort into housing, including residential and cottage flats.
“Thanks to our new homelessness alliances, along with support from the SA Housing Authority who worked quickly and collaboratively during the State’s latest seven-day lockdown to support our most vulnerable,” Ms Lensink said.
She said that during the July lockdown the SA Housing Authority accommodated about 300 South Australian households – all of whom had been assessed with the most vulnerable cohort supported into public housing, with others given appropriate housing support.
“The results speak for themselves and it continues to highlight that if we work together we’ll get some great outcomes,” she said.
Ms Lensink said the housing allocations would occur over about four weeks, with hotel/motel accommodation available in the interim for clients who had been matched to a property and were awaiting allocation.
She said that in addition, eight from the most vulnerable cohort on the by-name list were being accommodated in the new Housing for Health site at Brooklyn Park – a pilot program and partnership between the SA Housing Authority and SA Health.
Ms Lensink said that there, people who had been rough sleeping were accommodated and given mental health support and drug and alcohol counselling.
