‘Unprecedented’ letter demands Premier fights harder to end homeless crisis
More than 30 key SA organisations are demanding the government takes stronger action to tackle spiralling homelessness saying urgently needed funding is a “pittance” compared to $15 billion in South Road investments. See the full list of signatories.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauaskas has been asked for “urgent support to invest decisively in addressing the homelessness crisis” in the state by 32 of the state’s top organisations.
In a letter, seen by InDaily, the South Australian Alliance to End Homelessness has provided six recommendations to the government to “improve outcomes in preventing, reducing and ending homelessness”.
“Current housing options do not meet present needs, many are facing situations like never before with unprecedented numbers of people experiencing homelessness dying from preventable and treatable illnesses,” the letter reads.
SAAEH’s letter, described by CEO David Pearson as “unprecedented”, was supported by groups including the Local Government Association South Australia, the City of Adelaide, Anglicare SA, Flinders University’s Centre for Social Impact, community housing provider Junction and more.
Pearson told InDaily he was forced to pull the coalition together to sign the letter as South Australia was the only state with no government funding for a homelessness peak body.
“We’ve tried to speak as a united voice to say this is a sector that is in desperate need of investment,” Pearson said.
“We don’t need another review or a Royal Commission or anything like that. We just need some investment in the system right now.”
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SAAEH’s letter welcomed the state government’s commitment to reinvesting in housing supply, but said the efforts would “take time to deliver results” and “South Australia is facing a homelessness crisis right now”.
“We, the undersigned, seek your urgent support to invest decisively in addressing the homelessness crisis.”
The coalition called for $1 million per year to establish an Ending Homelessness Innovation and Collaboration Fund, to enable data-driven and place-based efforts.
It also called for a $52.8 million contribution and continued investment of $5.1 million in supportive housing that ends repeat and chronic homelessness.
The coalition also asked the government to commission an Australian-first independent study exploring the feasibility and adaptability of homelessness prevention legislation, and to commission a whole-of-state government taskforce to aid in the inter-departmental coordination efforts needed to better prevent, reduce and end homelessness.
It also requested funding for a dedicated homelessness peak body and to increase overall homelessness funding saying: “Our frontline services are in dire need of additional investment”.
“The Rann Labor Government saw a reduction in homelessness in South Australia when it was increasing in the rest of the country,” the letter reads.
“It is time to reignite this success.”
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Pearson told InDaily government investment in the sector was a “productivity investment”.
“We often compare the amount of money that’s getting invested into South Road; this is a pittance by comparison. This is about productivity too.
“South Road upgrades get you to work on time. Productivity investments in human services mean we stop having people experiencing homelessness blocking up our emergency departments. We stop locking them up in prison because it’s much more expensive to put them there and when you discharge someone from prison into homelessness, their likelihood of recidivism is incredibly high.”
It comes as dire red flags for the state’s homelessness crisis have been waved in recent weeks, including data from the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS), which showed more than 18,700 people accessed homelessness services in the 2023-24 financial year.
In October, Hutt St Centre called for assistance after announcing fresh fears it would reach capacity within the next three years unless more social housing became available for clients. It currently sees 826 people per week.
That organisation also announced it would wind down its flagship intensive support service – Aspire – for people being impacted by chronic homelessness in December.
Hutt St Centre claimed it delivered the state government $40 million in cost savings, including the avoidance of more than 6000 hospital nights.
New data also showed that SA has the highest percentage of children living in poverty in the country, with UnitingSA sending out a rally call for help with rising demand for services.
In a statement, a state government spokesperson said addressing homelessness was “one of the most pressing challenges we face”.
“We owe it to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to get this right, and we will continue to work closely with the homelessness sector as we do so,” the spokesperson said.
“An independent review of commissioning models for homelessness services, conducted by Better Start, and Jindawayni consulting, commenced in August 2025 and will be finalised by 30 June. The review is of critical importance, as it will ensure services are agile, responsive, outcome-focused, culturally informed and integrated across South Australia.
“The Malinauskas Labor Government continues to invest significantly in homelessness services, and the findings of the Review will help guide future commissioning.”
The full list of signatories:
- Australian Alliance to End Homelessness
- Aboriginal Sobriety Group
- care
- Anglicare SA
- Anti-Poverty Network South Australia
- Centacare
- Flinders University Centre for Social Impact
- City of Adelaide
- CHiAPRT
- Community Solutions
- Country North Homelessness Alliance
- Country South Homelessness Alliance
- George and Tanya Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- Homelessness SA
- Junction
- Homelessness Lived Experience Reference Group
- Local Government Association South Australia
- Mental Health Coalition South Australia
- Moorundi
- Neami National
- Pangula Mannamurna
- South Australian Council of Social Service
- ShelterSA
- St John’s Youth Services
- The Australian Centre for Social Innovation
- Uniting Communities
- Uniting SA
- Wyatt
- Percapita
- South Australian Network of Drug & Alcohol Services
- SYC
