VITAL services to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in eastern regional South Australia have been secured through a State Government funding package and establishment of a new regional alliance.
The SA Housing Authority has established five alliances as homelessness services continue to evolve to meet the complex needs of clients.
ac.care has been announced as the lead agency for the country south region, including the Limestone Coast, Riverland, Murraylands, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island under the reforms.
The country specialist agency has partnered with Junction Australia, Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation and Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service to form the new alliance.
Maintaining continuity of service access and activities for clients will be a core focus during the shift from individual program contracts to the alliance model.
“The agreement secures the future of our staff in the homelessness sector and the vital programs they deliver to help people stay in their homes or secure accommodation and work through issues that may put their tenancies at risk,” ac.care chief executive officer Shane Maddocks said.
“We are proud of our existing cooperation with Aboriginal-controlled organisations and welcome this opportunity to work more closely under the new alliance arrangement in a mutually-supportive way to provide the best possible service to clients.”
Mr Maddocks said clients and communities should see little change to service delivery in ac.care’s regions in the short-term, but improved cooperation and coordination going forward with the new alliance approach.
“We want all country people to have a safe home,
enough money to live on and strong, positive relationships.”
– ac.care chief executive officer Shane Maddocks
“Sadly, rent stress, a shortage of affordable and emergency accommodation, unemployment and a JobSeeker rate that has not kept up with increasing costs of living continue to push an increasing number of country people to the brink of homelessness and in need of the support of organisations such as ours,” Mr Maddocks said.
“We welcome the government’s new funding package as a step towards securing the sustainability of vital services in our communities and the jobs of staff dedicated to supporting vulnerable people.”
Mr Maddocks said the funding agreement also recognised the success of ac.care and the alliance partners in the communities they served.
“We want all country people to have a safe home, enough money to live on and strong, positive relationships,” Mr Maddocks said.
“ac.care has been dedicated to that mission in country South Australia for decades and the government’s faith in our organisation demonstrates we continue to deliver effectively on our purpose and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable people.”
Mr Maddocks also praised the generous and supportive communities in which ac.care operates that continued to contribute, such as through donations and volunteers, to allow ac.care to deliver and develop services beyond its core government-funded services.
ac.care can be contacted on 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273).
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