A collaboration between the SA Housing Authority, Baptist Care SA and the Toward Home Alliance, Paya'adlu, which means "sit, listen and learn" in Kaurna, will see service providers come together in one space to find solutions for people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.
People requiring assistance from these services often present with multiple and complex needs, requiring help from more than one specialist service agency. Co-location at Paya'adlu will help streamline that assistance through improved collaboration between providers.
The Specialist Homelessness Service system, that includes a state-wide Domestic and Family Violence Alliance, is supported by around $75 million in annual funding.
Over the past 18 months, an additional $17 million has been provided for homelessness services including more than $6 million for inner city services, $9 million to manage cost pressures and $1.7 million for the Hutt Street Aspire Program.
Users of the new hub will include the Authority's Office for Homelessness Sector Integration, other key government departments, and members of the Toward Home Alliance that includes Lutheran Care, Aboriginal Family Support Services, Baptist Care, Sonder, Mission Australia, Salvation Army and the Hutt Street Centre.
Paya'adlu provides an improved capacity for strategic planning and the sharing of vital data and information. This will allow all agencies to create truly collaborative and innovative partnerships to continue improving outcomes for clients.
The Authority will lease space in Paya'adlu on Wright Street owned by Baptist Care SA and will be used to provide a hub for homelessness services for at least the next three years.
As put by Nat Cook
Having a central hub for homelessness services is vital to better and broader collaboration.
Paya'adlu will allow the Alliance members and other services to co-ordinate their resources and knowledge and work towards better outcomes for all people experiencing homelessness or domestic and family violence.
Every organisation is committed to improving their responsiveness and Paya'adlu will house a dynamic community of services made up of people working together to improve the outcomes for people using these services.
As stated by Presiding Member of the SA Housing Trust Mary Patetsos AM
We are now in the second year since the establishment of the Homelessness Alliances, which are already doing great work in sharing best practice approaches. Paya'adlu takes that collaboration a step further.
Paya'adlu is more than an office space – it is essential to ensure a consolidated and tailored approach for each individual experiencing homelessness.
As put by Baptist Care SA CEO, Shane Austin:
Paya'adlu will help bring the community sector and government together so that decisions can be made on the ground to help end homelessness.
As put by Toward Home Alliance Senior Manager, Shaya Nettle:
Furthering a shared commitment to collaboration to improve outcomes for the community.
