Publications

For external publications and resources - please refer to the Resources page via the Publications tab.

Stamp duty in SA - $30K you’ll never get back - Did you know that South Australia has the second highest stamp duty rate in Australia?   In today’s tough housing market, the cost of stamp duty on top of the price for a house can be the deciding factor in decisions to buy as more and more South Australians are locked out of home ownership.  To read Shelter SA’s stamp duty information sheet, click here:  Stamp Duty Summary

The Keys to Successful Renting! - Do you know your rights and responsibilities as a private renter? More South Australians are renters now than ever before and having the right tools to enter the private rental market is critical to a positive renter experience. We’ve produced “Keys to Renting” - a series of images to guide South Australians through their renting experiences. The series of brightly coloured images are great for first time renters and existing renters – you can also find them on the Shelter SA Facebook and Twitter profiles for easy sharing of a fantastic resource for individuals and organisations across South Australia. Check out all 9 guides here:

#BigIdeaSA Open State Speaker Profiles - We are an Open State 2017 partner and the program is released today! Check out our fantastic speaker line up above. Our event will feature International guest, Indy Johar, a world-renowned international leader in innovative architecture and housing solutions.

This event is set to be our most innovative yet and we can’t wait to see you there.  Limited tickets available at EventBrite so please book now to avoid disappointment.

DV in SA prevention vs crisis management policies legislation and service delivery - written by Sorcha Walshe, University of Adelaide student intern whose project involved research into primary prevention of domestic violence (DV) in South Australia examining the policy, legislation and service delivery associated with domestic violence in this State - given that DV is one of the leading causes of homelessness and that housing affordability prevents people from re-establishing a home when relationships end.  It is clear from this research that in South Australia, the great majority of services provided to people experiencing DV occur at the crisis management level in the form of shelters for victims and women’s services after an act of violence is committed.  Sorcha's poster is available here: DV Prevention Poster.  

Shelter SA held a workshop to test the research findings and for service providers to share information about prevention strategies, initiatives and programs that they are delivering to the community.  We’ve produced a workshop report, recommendations, information about the guest speakers, the services and programs they provide and participant discussion and evaluation.  The workshop results confirm that we must tip the scales in South Australia to create a policy and service delivery environment, with more focus on the primary prevention of DV.  We also made a short video at the workshop highlighting key messages from presenters and participants.  Resources available to read are: the Media Release; "We need more men! Let's stop DV in SA",  the Workshop Report "We will not tolerate domestic violence in any shape or form" by Shelter SA and the Domestic Violence Prevention Workshop Video by Nick Graalman.

Private Renter Policy and Advocacy Project - Shelter SA aims to explore the need for and possibility of increasing the private rental tenant resources available in South Australia through increasing its private rental tenant policy and systems advocacy and to look at how we continue to include other tenants such as people who are living in rooming houses, residential parks, supported residential facilities and other marginal accommodation. Shelter SA does not wish to compete for or redirect the existing resources or funding of other organisations, nor disrupt the current arrangements in South Australia for individual tenant assistance. Pending the findings of community consultation and research, Shelter SA will make collaborative recommendations about a way forward to better serve private renters and identify the extra resources needed to increase our policy and advocacy in South Australia. This project will provide an update to our earlier papers and recommendations related to private renter advocacy and policy work.  For more information about the Project, click on the link above.

The End of the Road - Shelter SA has been working on a project over the past year focussed on the operation of for-profit rooming houses.  This is the first methodical study of the rooming house sector in South Australia since 2003.  This project was instigated in response to clear findings in the earlier research that provision of housing in this sector lacks sufficient or consistent regulation and is ill-suited to the diverse and often severely compromised health and personal circumstances of vulnerable residents.  To read the report, click here:  The End of the Road .  To read the consultation report detailing the methodology used and analysis of the feedback gathered click here:  The End of the Road - Primary Data Report

State Budget 2017-2018 - Shelter SA welcomes the Targets outlined for social housing in the next financial year, in particular the revised claims process for Housing SA Bond guarantees to increase protection for private renters.

National Rental Affordability Index, May 2017 - According to the latest National Rental Affordability Index (NRAI), produced by National Shelter, SGS Economics and Planning and, Community Sector Banking, Adelaide’s rental affordability continues to decline.  The newly developed interactive map, released on the 17 May, shows that for South Australia’s low income earners, affordable housing options are few and far between.  The map allows users to visualise rental affordability across Adelaide, with the added option to input annual income and number of bedrooms or use a pre-set household profile.  We encourage you to see for yourself, where you could rent comfortably on your income or perhaps see where people with differing household profiles such as pensioner, single person on benefits or single part time working parent could live. Try the interactive map for yourself here.  The National Shelter media release is available here and to access the 2017 NRAI report, please click here: NRAI Report.

National Rental Affordability Index, November 2016 - The National Rental Affordability Index (RAI) has been created by National Shelter, Community Sector Banking and SGS Economics & Planning, which undertakes the research. This quarterly Index gives an account of rental affordability in Australia's capital cities.  The November 2016 RAI provides an update of the June 2016 RAI report by providing analysis of data from the two quarters - March and June 2016.  Click on this link to read the November National Rental Affordability Index.  In support of the RAI, National Shelter also released its media release  - Australia’s rental affordability crisis pushing people into homelessness along with an interactive map which clearly shows  levels of rental affordability across all states.

Homeless Connect:   Homelessness, Health and Housing Expo 2016 report - This year 54 agencies from the community, health and public sector attended the Expo, providing housing, health and homelessness services to 450+ people, which not only helps to reduce homelessness but also improves the overall well-being of those experiencing homelessness or housing stress.   To see the key points from the full report, click here: Key Points Report

Responding to children in juvenile justice centres in South Australia (update September 2016) - This paper is an update to the briefing paper on the safety of children entering and exiting youth detention centres in South Australia and the progress of the Working Group.  Shelter SA has produced this paper which discusses the relevant Royal Commission into Child Protection recommendations, the evidence-base for service delivery and Shelter SA’s community consultation findings that provide a solid foundation for the next steps of the Working Group to plan a community workshop for stakeholders.  To read the entire paper please click here:  Responding to Young People Entering and Exiting Youth Justice.  Shelter SA understands that there are a diverse number of stakeholders involved in ensuring the safety and well-being of children exiting detention and welcomes your input.  If you have any questions or comments or simply wish to register your interest in this work, please contact Alice Clark, Executive Director, Shelter SA on 0425 060 649 or alice.clark@sheltersa.asn.au.

Regional Engagement Strategy - including Homeless 2 Home Data - Under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness, all specialist homelessness agencies in South Australia are required to use the Homeless 2 Home (H2H) client and case management system. The system tracks demographic, needs and exit information about clients who present to Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) in particular regions.  H2H data is not publicly available and only authorised staff members from specialist homelessness agencies and the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) have access to H2H data. Shelter SA obtained the data via a special request and as a result of analysing the data provided, has developed a data summary.  The summary is a collection of data from three South Australian regions; Regional West, Region North and Region South and the statistics cover the period of Jan-01-2015 to Dec-31-2015.  The summary is available here: H2H Regional combined Data Summary.  This document complements the Regional Engagement Strategy Reports below.

Regional Engagement Strategy Consultations - the Shelter SA team has visited the Riverland, Port Augusta and Port Lincoln to consult with government and non-government housing and homelessness workers to discuss the challenges unique to the regions.   The objective of the Regional Engagement Strategy consultations is to discuss all things housing that affect people living and working in rural and remote areas. Shelter SA’s consultations with housing agencies and housing support providers enable us to include regional voices in our policy and advocacy work. As a result of the consultations, a report for each region has been compiled:

DV Discussion Paper - Submission - Shelter SA recently wrote to the Office of the Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department welcoming the State Government’s Domestic Violence Discussion Paper which calls for policy review and implementation of strategies that seek to reduce the number of people experiencing domestic violence.  Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness and more crisis accommodation is needed for people escaping domestic violence.  Read the DV Discussion Paper Submission

Registry Week Methodology - Shelter SA's report compares the strengths and weaknesses of the Street Count with Registry Week methodology and contains recommendations about a way to enhance the rough sleeper data collected and how it is used to advocate for housing solutions for participants. At present, Adelaide, nor any other major centre in South Australia, has adopted the Registry Week as a means of evaluating and acting upon rough sleeper issues.  To read the discussion paper, please click:  Shelter SA Registry Week Discussion Paper

Responding to children in Juvenile Justice Centres in SA - Shelter SA understands that the safety of vulnerable children is much more than housing them safely.  Based on our Regional Consultations we have initiated a working group consisting of peak bodies and community leaders to drive a renewed approach to protect our children who are entering and exiting youth detention centres.  This work is timely given the release of the Royal Commission findings.  The working group agrees that the policy context for these children are extensive but their implementation and service delivery in terms of case management, information sharing, handover between settings and cross-portfolio interactions are inconsistent and lead to children falling through the gaps.  The Shelter SA paper; Responding to Children Entering and Exiting Detention is here briefing paper.

Submission Letter regarding Proposed Repeal of S18C Racial Discrimination Act - Shelter SA is extremely concerned that the repeal of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act will increase the negative impact of discrimination and racism on CALD and Aboriginal peoples’ ability to access housing by making racist language lawfully acceptable, paving the way for an increase in racist speech and actions, including the denial of access to shelter. It is particularly troubling that the proposed addition of a racial vilification sub-clause ‘does not apply to words, sounds, images or writing spoken, broadcast, published or otherwise communicated…’. This creates an opportunity for racism to pervade the public domain and affect how CALD and Aboriginal people are viewed and treated.  To read Shelter SA's submission letter to addressed to Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, please click here:   Shelter SA Submission Letter Re Proposed Repeal of S18C RDA

Residential Parks Act review submission - Shelter SA has written a submission to the Commissioner of Consumer and Business Services and support the South Australian Residential Parks Residents Association (SARPRA) submission to the Review of the Residential Parks Act 2007 (the Act).   Shelter SA recognises the importance of resident voices, views and their right to an affordable place to call home.  SARPRA would like the review of the Act to pay attention to security of resident tenure and the regulated registration of residential parks and park owners.  To read the Shelter SA submission, please click here:  Residential Parks Act Review.

Growing number of rough sleepers discussed in State Parliament -  In June 2016, both the Minister and Shadow Minister for Social Housing raised issues during Question Time around the growing number of rough sleepers in the city.  Rachael Sanderson, State Member for Adelaide, questioned the Minister on the government’s homelessness strategy, whilst Minister Bettison identified her concerns about a lack of guaranteed funding for the homelessness sector past June 2017.  Additionally, Minister Bettison gave a ministerial update in regards to the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Housing.  The conversations can be found here:  160608 Hansard Homelessness, where Shelter SA has extracted the relevant material from the Parliament of South Australia Hansard for June 08 2016.

Labor’s approach to tax reform – Proposed changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount.  Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten announced the ALP’s intention to introduce changes to both negative gearing and the Capital Gains Tax discount as it applies to residential property (currently the rate of CGT is halved if the investment property is held by the investor for more than 12 months).  To read more click here: Labor's Approach to Tax Reform.

National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) 2017 - Shelter SA Open Letter to Minister Christian Porter - Shelter SA wrote to Minister Christian Porter in relation to the Federal Social Services portfolio seeking confirmation that  no interruption to the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) will occur due to the 2017 Federal election. Shelter SA also invited signatories from other organisations, peak bodies and individuals to endorse the letter.  The list of signatories includes a broad range of young people, Aboriginal services, members of parliament, peak bodies, mental health, domestic violence, housing and homelessness services from country and metropolitan areas:  Shelter SA NPAH Letter - List of Signatories.  In response to our letter, we received a reply from the Housing and Homelessness Branch of the Department of Social Services: Minister's letter for response.

Shelter SA - Regional councils and community services directory - One of Shelter SA’s You Tube videos entitled How to find emergency housing support focuses on services available mainly for people living in the metropolitan area.  To complement this video, we have produced a comprehensive listing of all South Australian regional councils, community services, and generic homelessness services with links to their respective websites.  The Directory is designed to assist all people who are specifically looking for support or advice regarding housing and homelessness and domestic violence in regional South Australia.   A how to use guide accompanies the interactive Directory and is available to view with the “How to find emergency housing support” video.  Please share it with your networks.  Please share it with your networks.  To access the Directory, please click here:  SA Regional Council and Community Services Directory.  If you have any questions regarding this Directory, please email us at sheltersa@sheltersa.asn.au or phone 08 8223 4077.

National Shelter Reconciliation Action Plan has been endorsed - National Shelter, the Australian peak body for housing and voice of low income housing consumers, is very proud to launch it’s first Reconciliation Action Plan and announce that it has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.  To read the RAP, click here: National Shelter RAP

“Housing Boomers - A report on housing issues facing South Australia’s older population” - One of the largest groups of housing consumers set to increase rapidly in coming years, is the older population.  People are living longer than ever before and over the next four decades, the number of Australians aged 65 and over is projected to double.  Shelter SA’s new report “Housing Boomers - a report on housing issues facing South Australia’s older population” addresses housing for older people on two primary levels; housing stress and homelessness. The report also addresses specific issues such as personal, structural, gender and cultural factors that affect older people and their housing.   Shelter SA has also produced it’s newest You Tube video “Housing, Homelessness and Older People” which complements the report.

Evaluating Advocacy – A ‘must read’ for all peak bodies - Shelter SA has located a credible and reliable tool for evaluating advocacy work which is called The Advocacy Progress Planner (APP).  The APP is an online evaluation tool based on high quality research by the Aspen Institute.  In support of this useful tool, Shelter SA has written a paper which explains in more detail.  Please click here to read the paper: Evaluating advocacy – a ‘must read’ for all peak bodies

Shelter SA – Information Sharing Guidelines (ISG)  appendix - All relevant Government agencies and Non-Government organisations funded by the South Australian Government who provide services to vulnerable people including adults, children, young people and their families - are now obliged to implement an Information Sharing Guide (ISG).  To successfully implement an ISG, organisations are required to develop a procedure referred to as an ISG Appendix,  Shelter SA's very own version can be accessed here:  ISG Appendix.

Stephen Marshall’s manifesto – the missing chapter Steven Marshall’s vision for South Australia’s economy, the good health of our citizens and stronger communities in the 2036 Manifesto misses a key foundational element – an affordable place to live. As the peak body for housing, Shelter SA seeks the inclusion of housing as an additional Chapter of the Manifesto. When the South Australian Liberal Party develops public policy around the Manifesto, housing will be included as a critical element of the achievement of the first nine goals and the basis upon which citizens can achieve health, education and employment. To read Shelter SA’s additional chapter please click here: Housing our State - Manifesto Chapter 10.

YourSay information sheet - Shelter SA has prepared a helpful information sheet available here:  Shelter SA YourSAy information sheet to support the South Australian Government’s YourSAy consultation about private rental, based on the work we have already done through research, forums, consultations and member feedback.

SA edition of Parity - Shelter SA submitted several articles to the SA edition of the November 2015 Parity magazine. We will be showcasing our own Shelter SA articles published in the Parity Magazine through our ebulletins and on this page over the coming weeks.  We’d like to acknowledge and thank CHP and the editors of Parity Magazine for allowing us to share these articles with you. Each article is available to read below:

"A Reverse Form of Welfarism" - an article by Professor Keith Jacobs, University of Tasmania. Professor Jacobs explores the systemic policy issues that are perpetuating the affordable housing crisis and homelessness in Australia. Jacobs argues that the Australian taxation system unfairly favours home-owners, property investors and financial institutions.  To read the Shelter SA summary of this article please click here:  "A Reverse Form of Welfarism". For more on Jacobs’ views, click here to listen to an extended radio podcast.

Reform of the Federation white paper - Roles and responsibilities in housing and homelessness -  Shelter SA has written a response to the Reform of the Federation White Paper - "Decentralisation - helping or hurting?" This document also includes a link to an opinion piece written by Adrian Pisarski, ED of National Shelter.  Adrian shares his views on the reform of the Federation - the process to date and the real questions we need to be asking about the housing system. To read all documents, please click Shelter SA Summary Federalism Review

Social Impact Bonds – Opportunities and challenges for the homelessness sector in SA.  Shelter SA held a Social Impact Bonds sector consultation in Adelaide on 12 March 2015 with the key aims of the consultation being to:

  • Engage the sector in dialogue and discussion about SIBs;
  • Gauge levels of interest and test levels of knowledge;
  • Identify capacity building directions and needs;
  • Validate the findings of the Shelter SA critical review.

Please click on this link to read the Shelter SA SIB Consultation Report - Questions from the field.  You can also read our SIBs and Homelessness - Moving Forward. Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) have been promoted by the SA Government as an alternative method of funding for community services including homelessness.

House for rent - apply within - There is a lack of reliable South Australian data about the numbers of tenants experiencing issues that arise within the private rental market. The aim of this paper is to provide information about the private renter’s experience based on published research, the work of Australian tenant unions and Shelter SA consultations.  To access the paper, please click here: Renting a House in SA

Reconciliation Action Plan - Shelter SA is committed to both the spirit and the process of reconciliation between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people in South Australia.  To read our RAP, please click here: Shelter SA RAP.

National Shelter, the Australian peak body for housing  is very proud to launch it’s first Reconciliation Action Plan:  National Shelter RAP

Step by step renting guides - Quite often it can be a daunting task when looking to rent - whether you are a first time tenant or someone who already rents but may be looking to move to another rental property.  Shelter SA has produced four simple guides to assist people who are in the rental market.  Each step by step guide listed below provides some basic information and helpful tips.  Click on each guide to access the information:

  1. Where to Look for a Rental Property
  2. Applying for a Rental Property
  3. How to be a Good Tenant
  4. How to Find a Share House

Online Multicultural Directory -  The Multicultural Directory, a comprehensive guide to multicultural supports in South Australia is now available online.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing and Homelessness

Aboriginal people have distinct housing needs that often relate to cultural and family concerns. Kinship obligations to family, extended family and community mean that often houses built for nuclear families and western ways accommodate large numbers of people.  Shelter SA endeavours to promote knowledge and understanding of concerns about the mainstreaming of public housing and other issues that affect Aboriginal people.  Shelter SA is currently developing a Cultural Advisory Panel and more information about the Panel will be available soon.

Shelter SA publications:

Indigenous Australians Federalism summary:  Shelter SA has produced a summary from the Federalism Discussion Paper of the points that refer to Aboriginal Australians.  To access this summary please click here: Indigenous Australians Federalism summary

Shelter SA's Aboriginal housing summit - In November 2013, Shelter SA held an Aboriginal Housing Summit where we  collected a large number of stories about experiences people had that revolve around being unable to access the housing they need so that they have a place where they can settle, send their children to school, gain and keep employment and look after themselves and their families.  Housing is the foundation upon which people can reach their goals and nurture their families.  Leading up to the South Australian election in March 2014 Shelter SA spoke with Aboriginal people directly to hear about their positive experiences and visions for a better future.  If governments and the community want to see results from Government policies such as 'Closing the Gap', 'Every Chance for Every Child' and reducing Aboriginal over-representation in homelessness, the justice system, unemployment and poor health statistics we must provide guidance to political leaders and attempt to shape their vision for South Australia.  The purpose of the Shelter SA gatherings was to ask the political parties in South Australia to include the results of the consultation in their plans for the future of the State.  To read the entire report, please click here:  Our Grannies Are Our Strength

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Shelter SA supports service providers in addressing and improving the housing situation of refugees and asylum seekers who experience a range of issues distinct from other vulnerable groups.  Refugees who settle in South Australia face a housing market where public housing stock is being systematically reduced and they are compelled to compete in the private rental market often without a rental history or rental references and with added barriers around language and culture.

"Busting the Myths" aims to debunk false assumptions and intervene in widespread negative opinion about refugees, which impacts on the ability of refugees and those from refugee backgrounds to access housing and ultimately can contribute to increases in the number of people who find themselves homeless.  To read more, click here: Shelter SA Busting the Myths.  To read Shelter SA's opinion piece "Busting the Myths" - new arrivals, think of it this way... please click here: Shelter SA Opinion Piece Refugees and Asylum Seekers Busting the Myths

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SHELTER SA

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