Below you’ll find the answers to the most common questions we are asked. If you don’t find what you are looking for, feel free to contact us.
To find a shelter or emergency accommodation you should contact a homelessness service provider in your area as soon as you can. They can provide information on available options and assist you to access emergency accommodation.
In crisis situations, Homeless Connect SA can assist outside of working hours, phone 1800 003 308
Yes, Country North Homelessness Alliance can support young people with accommodation, counselling, life skills development, education support and assistance in transitioning to independent living.
Crisis accommodation specifically for young people aged between 15 and 25 years is located in Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Port Lincoln.
During times of extremely cold, wet weather or in periods of excessive heat, the state will enact a code blue or code red response to reduce the harmful effects on people sleeping rough.
When a code blue or code red is activated, Alliance partners will respond by visiting locations where people are known to be sleeping rough, providing resources and information on supports available and assisting to access shelter.
People unsheltered during extreme weather events should contact their local homelessness service for assistance or phone Homeless Connect on 1800 003 308.
Alliance partners are not housing providers, so do not have direct access to available houses.
Our alliance relies on the availability of vacancies in the public and community housing sectors and in the private rental market.
Homelessness services provide support to understand and navigate the pathways into secure housing.
The homelessness sector incorporates a number of different housing types including:
Emergency Accommodation: accessed by households during times of crisis when they are unsheltered and no other appropriate accommodation is available. Often in hotel or caravan park accommodation, with provision of shelter for a few nights up to a few weeks.
Crisis accommodation: for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness and there are no other housing options available. Generally provided under a short-term lease arrangement of approximately 3 months.
Supportive and Transitional Housing – Medium term housing programs that include a housing lease together with case-management support. Provided to households with experiences of homelessness and require additional support to establish and maintain a tenancy.
Long-term housing – independent housing accessed through public or community housing or private rental with the expectation that the tenancy will be ongoing.
Common Ground in Port Augusta offers supported long-term housing options.
Supportive and Transitional Housing – Medium term housing programs that include a housing lease together with case-management support. Provided to households with experiences of homelessness and require additional support to establish and maintain a tenancy.
Long-term housing – independent housing accessed through public or community housing or private rental with the expectation that the tenancy will be ongoing.
Common Ground in Port Augusta offers supported long-term housing options.
Public and community housing is mainly for vulnerable and low-income households who are unable to access any other form of accommodation, such as private rental.
To be eligible for public and/or community housing, households must:
Interest in housing is registered by setting up a Housing Connect account with SA Housing Authority. This is a safe, secure online service that allows you to easily access your personal housing information online, 24 hours a day.
Before you can register for a Housing Connect account, you will need a standard strength digital identity to prove who you are. You can create a digital identity using the Australian Government’s myGovID app.
Q8 Who are the Homelessness alliances and how are they funded?
In South Australia there are five alliances that divide the state into four geographical regions.
Four homelessness alliances:
One State-wide Domestic and Family Violence Alliance
All alliances are funded through State and Commonwealth Government funding.