People sleeping rough in the local area have been left out in the cold by the Marshall Liberal Government who have decided to only tackle the issue within the Adelaide City.
Despite the Government’s steps to counter homelessness by providing accommodation to those without shelter during the winter, the only measures taken so far have extended to 266 people within the CBD.
According to Shelter SA, more than 100 people across Gawler, Victor Harbor, Port Lincoln, Port Augusta, Adelaide Hills, Mount Barker and the Riverland are still without any form of housing or shelter by the start of winter.
While the move to accommodate those sleeping rough in the CBD is welcomed by local Member of Parliament Tony Piccolo, he says more needs to be done to include the many others in the same circumstances around Adelaide’s suburbs and surrounding towns.
“The CBD initiative is a good first step, but nothing has been done for people in the suburbs or the regions,” said Mr Piccolo.
“The presence of homelessness in our society is a problem that continues to plague us and given the right decisions by the Marshall Liberal Government it can be turned around, but they are yet to maximise the potential of this idea” Mr Piccolo said.
“The New South Wales State Government have raised their housing stock by buying up rental properties to use as welfare housing for those displaced by COVID-19, making great strides to reduce the numbers of those sleeping rough in Sydney.”
“The simple fact is that Shelter SA state that there are not enough houses in their program currently to adequately look after those still without a safe place to sleep.”
“We want to see steps taken by the Marshall Liberal Government to increase the number of houses available to families in need and to expand the efforts beyond the confines of Adelaide’s CBD, as right now we aren’t seeing anything to suggest the Premier is taking the plights of these people seriously.
”Mr Piccolo said that he has been working alongside a number of local churches and charities and the Gawler Council trying to find ways to provide a “night shelter” in the town so rough sleepers can have a safe place to sleep at night.
“The response by the local churches and charities and Gawler Council has been very positive and with some funding or other support from the State Government the local community can support those in need.”
“Sadly, the Marshall Liberal government have shown very little interest in the welfare of homeless people in the area.”