PLANS FOR MEN’S CRISIS ACCOMMODATION IN PORT LINCOLN

MEDIA RELEASE

29 January 2024

West Coast Youth and Community Support has gained Council planning approval to develop a Men’s Crisis Accommodation at Lot 504 Brougham Place Port Lincoln. The approval was granted following a mandated period of community consultation.

The property located on Brougham place alongside the railway line, was built in 1964 to accommodate single men employed by South Australian Railways due to a lack of available housing. Later it became home to TS Flinders Naval Cadets until 2019 when they relocated to the Army barracks on Flinders Highway.

WCYCS, as a Country North Homelessness Alliance partner, aims to provide short-term accommodation for single men experiencing homelessness, empowering them to reconnect with community and develop skills to become economically and socially independent.

This site will have the capacity to house up to 18 adult men in single occupancy units, plus an employee bedroom and bathroom, two communal shower blocks, a communal kitchen, an office space, two enclosed pergola areas, and a large outdoor area. The units require renovating, furniture, and fittings to bring them up to a suitable standard. Ideally, WCYCS would like the cost of site renovations gifted to them by the State Government, but it is understood that they may have to find other funding options.

The outdoor spaces can be used for community development initiatives, such as yarning circles, community garden and the Community Connections program. The enclosed pergola areas offer an opportunity to collaborate with service providers to facilitate programs that support tenants such as Wellbeing workshops, AOD Group Therapy, Job Skills programs, and Financial Counselling.

CEO of West Coast Youth and Community Support, Narelle Biddell said,

“The lack of affordable housing options on the Lower Eyre Peninsula is causing an enormous amount of pressure for so many in our community. We see this as a unique opportunity to provide dedicated crisis accommodation for single men experiencing homelessness in Port Lincoln and across the Eyre Peninsula. Limited access to Emergency Accommodation presents significant challenges for homelessness services supporting this group across the region.”

Data collected in May 2023 from SA Housing Authority waitlists, demonstrate that a total of 56 single males were assessed as being in need of housing in Port Lincoln. In Whyalla there were 46 men and in Ceduna 24.

“WCYCS are currently negotiating lease terms with Aurizon who lease the vacant property from Department of Infrastructure and Transport. Once the lease is secured, the next step is to finalise the business case and secure funding for the renovations and fit out of the current buildings as well as program funding to staff the facility.”

The total quote to refurbish the site is $935,000 with 7 additional new jobs expected to be generated during construction and a forecast additional GRP of $600,000. “We will be looking to engage a local builder and trades people to complete the works and local businesses to supply furnishings and white goods.”