Homelessness service concerned by changing demographic in clients

Sun 7 Jun 2026 at 2:07pm

Sun 7 Jun 2026 at 2:07pm

In short:

A South Australian homelessness service says it has seen 42 per cent growth in demand for support services over the past four years.

Hutt St Centre says the number of women accessing support in that time has grown by 77 per cent.

What's next?

Hutt St has received $2 million in SA budget funding, which will help enrol 71 more clients in the centre's Aspire program, which provides clients with individualised support.

A South Australian homelessness service says it is seeing a changing client demographic as cost of living and housing pressures intensify.

It comes after a week of severe winds, torrential rain and frosty nights across much of the state this week, which also led to an acute spike in demand for support.

Hutt St Centre CEO Chris Burns said the centre had experienced 42 per cent growth in demand over the past four years as a consequence of the cost of living and the housing crisis.

"Of greater concern: we've experienced over those four years a 77 per cent growth in female clients accessing our services," Mr Burns said.

"So the demography of who is accessing our services is changing and very concerningly it's a lot more young women and single mothers,"

Mr Burns said.

He said the severe weather over the past week had also led to an increase in people needing support.

"Much greater demand for material aid in the way of sleeping bags, dry clothing, need for hot meals and hot showers."

The Hutt St Centre is one of three providers to receive an additional $2 million in funding over four years in the SA budget.

Mr Burns said the funding would enable the centre to enrol an additional 71 people experiencing chronic and complex homelessness in the Aspire program, which helps connect people experiencing homelessness to individualised case management support based on their needs.

"This will save 71 additional lives,"

Mr Burns said.

Jess Anderson said she experienced homelessness on and off for four years before engaging with Hutt St Centre.

"I self-referred to the Aspire program; I was staying in motel accommodation and emergency accommodation," she said.

"I was able to get a roof over my head. I was able to not be sleeping rough anymore, gain confidence in myself, not be living in fear as much, and be the best version of myself for my children and me."

Minister for Human Services Katrine Hildyard said the $6 million investment across Hutt St Centre, Catherine House and St Vincent de Paul would enable the services to continue to support people experiencing complex homelessness.

"We want people to have the dignity and security that comes with a safe place to call home," Ms Hildyard said.

Mr Burns said the centre was grateful for the investment.

"The more money we get, the more lives we can save; the need for money will not reduce," he said.