10 hours ago
Hutt St Centre planning to open dedicated women's shelter as domestic violence crisis deepens
South Australia's housing crisis remains at breaking point, with one of the biggest homeless shelters fearing it could be forced to turn away clients as it hits capacity within years.
The Hutt St Centre is even planning on opening a dedicated shelter, just for women and kids, as it fights to keep with a concerning rise in families being forced onto the streets.
The charity had almost 43,000 visits from South Australians doing it tough in the past 12 months - the most in its 70-year history.
It also handed out more than 22,000 pieces of material aid, such as clothing and personal hygiene, and served over 47,000 meals.
Staggeringly, there has been a 116 per cent increase in visits to its Wellbeing Centre since 2020/2021.
Women are the fastest growing group experiencing homelessness in SA, with the centre experiencing a 38 per cent jump in females accessing assistance this financial year compared to 2020/21.
There has also been a nearly 50 per cent rise in people who had never previously experienced homelessness visiting the centre over the same period.
It has also seen a reduction in clients with a criminal history or drug and alcohol problems.
Hutt Street chief executive Chris Burns feared demand would only increase in the coming years, with the cost-of-living, domestic violence and housing crises pushing more people out -of-stable accommodation.
'The face of homelessness is changing; you're reminded of (that) every day,' Mr Burns said.
'People with great jobs and brilliant qualifications can still become homeless and we've got former senior public servants, high school teachers, people very high up in business who are now accessing our services.
'We've all got to remember, this could happen to you, or someone you love or someone very near to you in a heartbeat, it just takes one bad event.
'We can't see what is going to abate the cost-of-living crisis … the number of houses needed are decades away.'
The Hutt Street Centre recently underwent a $2.2 million upgrade, boasting a new private retreat for families, medical treatment rooms, creative hub and all-weather outdoor courtyard for dining and group activities.
Despite the fresh facilities, the welfare centre is set to reach its capacity - 71,500 visits a year - by late 2028.
Mr Burns said the centre may have to turn away clients, without another significant expansion or government support.
They are now considering opening another centre just for women and children due to the concerning rise in clients experiencing domestic violence.
'For every woman that comes to us for help, there's probably another one who doesn't want to come into the centre because there's men there,' he said.
'If we don't do something between now and December 2028, we're going to get to the point where we will have to turn people, which is totally against our ethos.'
