Local Housing SA residents are concerned the temporary closure of the Gawler Housing SA Office because of COVID-19 restrictions will become permanent.
Located on Seventh Street in Gawler South, the Housing SA Gawler Office has been a service for vulnerable members of the Gawler area to seek help for various issues relating to housing.
However, with the office closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is believed the Government has taken the opportunity to quietly close the service and relocate its staff to other offices.
All six of the office’s employees have been shifted to surrounding Housing SA locations such as Elizabeth, Salisbury and Modbury, leaving Gawler with no direct service over the past few months.
Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo said the move would spell bad news for those living with a disability who are unable to fully access public transport or use computers, as they would be left with few options when looking to seek assistance from the nearest Housing SA office.
“Sadly, the suspected closure of the office has taken place without any form of consultation with those in the community and has not been publicised by the Marshall Liberal Government.
Mr Piccolo expressed his disappointment at the supposed decision, stating that it would be unacceptable for one of the town’s most essential services to be secretly shut down.
“It has been typical of this Government to ignore the needs of our most vulnerable members of the community, so hearing about the alleged move to shut down Gawler’s Housing SA office has left me upset and angry,” Mr Piccolo said.
“To leave these people without a local office, and without giving so much as a hint of prior warning, would be simply inexcusable.
”Those living in the Gawler area would have to travel to either Elizabeth or Salisbury to visit a Housing SA office, 15km and 22km from the former site of the local office respectively.