Hutt St Centre to get additional funding to support homeless

A Hutt St Centre program keeping homeless South Australians off the streets has received a $852,000 funding boost from the Marshall Liberal Government.

he injection ensures the Aspire program, which helps our most vulnerable with medium and long-term intensive support, can assist up to 80 new participants, who will receive service from the program up to June 2024.

The program has already assisted nearly 600 South Australians end their

homelessness at the same time as clients avoiding a need for hospitalisation, emergency accommodation and contact with police and correctional services.

Aspire connects program participants with housing, employment and community.
Case managers help people maintain their housing over a period of three years, so that participants fulfill their goals and aspirations, and achieve independence.

This new State Government funding supplements the more than $7.5 million in funding to date for Hutt St Centre through the Aspire social impact bond, since the program began in 2017.

Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said: “The Marshall Liberal Government is really pleased to commit an additional $852,000 to the Hutt St Centre so they can continue their good work supporting some of our most vulnerable South Australians through the Aspire program.”

“The success of this program shows what can be achieved when service providers are focussed on and heavily invested in good outcomes for vulnerable clients.

“Our ultimate aim is to get better outcomes for homeless South Australians and the Aspire program is helping South Australians with complex issues and backgrounds with support to get back on their feet.”

Member for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson welcomed the funding for the Hutt St Centre.
“This is really positive news for the Hutt St Centre but most of all for our most vulnerable South Australians who will continue receiving specialised support through the Aspire program.”

Hutt St Centre Chief Executive Chris Burns said: “Aspire is  a proven program, which delivers “housing first” intensive case management, and which assists complex clients to build their independence and resilience, to the point that they no longer require support, as they transition to homefulness.”

“Finding a home for someone and ensuring they receive comprehensive health and wellbeing support, access to training and employment pathways, and opportunities for connection with their community makes a significant difference to a person’s life, and allows them to move forward,” Mr Burns said.

“We are confident that the independent evaluation of the program will be very positive. In the meantime, this State Government funding will allow us to support an additional 80 complex clients experiencing persistent homelessness, to rebuild their lives on their pathway to homefulness.”

The State Government has commissioned an independent evaluation of the program, to be completed by April 2022.