IMPACTFUL DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMS IN SA
AROUND THE COUNTRY SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australia continued to deliver impact through housing programs, but also in the delivery of specialist homelessness and supportive housing services. In addition to 1,093 rental homes, services include 102 supported housing places in Common Ground Adelaide, 54 beds of supported accommodation, and a dedicated women’s centre at Catherine House. Our 35-unit Common Ground Port Augusta portfolio is a supportive housing partnership with the Salvation Army. Demand for stable, long-term, affordable housing continues to grow at unprecedented rates. Whether it be homes for those who come through homelessness services, or from housing waiting lists, our mission to deliver more housing remains sharply in focus. Good progress was made in the development of 36 apartments at Bowden in partnership with Nightingale, Renewal SA, and Housing SA. The architecturally designed, carbon neutral, 5 Green Star rated building has taken its place in the Bowden landscape. Around half of the homes are affordable home purchase opportunities, the balance will be retained as long-term affordable rental housing. The building will be completed late in 2022 just as construction of 14 homes in Felixstow are due to start.
The SA housing team based in Adelaide and Port Augusta continued to meet regulatory and contracted requirements in the delivery of tenancy services. All program audit requirements were met, and over the year the team moved to electronic applications in support of organisational commitment to delivering sustainable business practices. With over 15,000 calls to the customer service team it was one of the busiest years, with 3,300 purchase orders for repairs and maintenance raised and completed within the year. The property team conducted more than 400 property condition audits with the data collected directly, driving the delivery of more than $3 million in upgrades across the portfolio. Upgrades were carried out on 677 properties, ranging from painting and gutter repairs, right through to full structural repairs. Common Ground is a permanent supportive housing model that tackles long-term homelessness in Adelaide and Port Augusta. This highly successful housing first model supports tenancy sustainment for the most vulnerable members of the community, with no clients exiting the program into homeless. Over the year, 45% of residents were male and 55% female; 81% identified as having a mental health illness and 21% identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. 32% of the residents were aged between 15 and 25, with 61% in the 26 to 64 age group, and 7% aged 65 or over.
My home is my castle and the best home I ever had. I feel very lucky with everything that has happened since moving to Housing Choices and I am lucky to be alive. I have the best support that I have ever had. - SA resident
Pictured Right: South Australia General Manager, Julie Duncan at Men’s Health Week morning tea.
16
Housing choices australia
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator