UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide

Date: October 14, 2003 Ref No. 02/03

14,000 low cost S.A. dwellings needed to counter homelessness

UnitingCare Wesley – a major provider of welfare and support services in South Australia - has called for the provision of 14,000 additional, low cost dwellings to meet the growing problem of homelessness in the state. This would start with a State government commitment to start work immediately on 1000 of these dwellings.

The findings of a major study of homelessness were presented at a function in Adelaide today to launch UnitingCare Wesley which is the umbrella name for four Missions in South Australia.

Julian Disney, a national authority on welfare, who released the findings today, says one of the driving forces behind the growth of homelessness in Australia is the national shortage of at least 150,000 urgently-needed affordable houses for people on low incomes. This housing crisis is exacerbating poverty levels in Australia.

He said “In South Australia the amount of housing available to those on low incomes is not rising as it should be, but falling.

“For example, in l992 the SA Housing Trust had 63,000 properties. A decade later it has 48,000 Trust properties.

Mr Disney says “The report shows that people on low incomes are battling against major forces of economic and social change in Australia. These changes are increasing the risk of homelessness for both individuals and families.

“Housing prices are continuing to rise, which is good news for home owners and investors, but demoralising for low income households.

“Rising house prices are exacerbated by labour market change where the growth of part time and casual jobs has reduced incomes for many households.”

He said homeless people represent a group of people who have reached the ‘end stage’ of the process of social exclusion.

“They are generally the people who suffer the most discrimination, have poorer physical and mental health and the least resources to pursue opportunities for a decent life”, Mr Disney said.

He said that responding to homelessness is a responsibility of the whole community, not just government.

“While there have been a few encouraging initiatives, a great deal more needs to be done to meet this growing national and state problem.”

The new name, UnitingCare Wesley, brings together the partners - the Adelaide Central Mission, the Port Adelaide Central Mission, the Port Pirie Central Mission and the Wesley Uniting Mission. These partners are committed to reducing homelessness in South Australia.