Following the announcement made by the Victorian Government today, Shelter SA is calling on the South Australian Government to follow suit and provide more support and housing for people experiencing homelessness during this pandemic.

People experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 as they are more likely to have pre-existing health conditions and self-isolation is impossible when rough sleeping or staying in crisis accommodation.

According to 2016 census data, 116,427 people registered as homeless, with 44% of respondents in severely crowded dwellings, while 7% were in improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out.

SA Health has announced that it's infectious diseases team will provide assistance for people in boarding houses if a resident tests positive. We ask for more urgent action from the government about how they are going to help these vulnerable people.

With workplaces begining to shut down nationwide, Australian renters are at significant risk of losing income, placing substantial stress on them to make their rent payments.

Eviction and the loss of their home and safety should not be an additional threat looming over people's heads in the face of a pandemic.

South Australia should look to other countries as an example of how to approach the current situation, such as the various North American cities placing moratoriums on evictions.

Community organisation Better Renting is calling for a moratorium on evictions to help protect renters from losing their homes.

Read Better Renting's statement and sign the petition.

People who lose their incomes due to the impacts of this pandemic should be financially supported by having their mortgage payments postponed without the threat of default.

As well as easing the burden on these households, removing the risk of loan arrears will also put landlords in a better position to support their tenants by deferring rent payments. This will lessen the impact on low-income households, and renters who have lost their incomes due to coronavirus shutdowns. 

This is happening elsewhere as Italy has announced it will be suspending mortgage payments as part of a suite of measures to soften the economic blow of COVID-19 on households.

Shelter SA calls for the Commonwealth Government to consider including similar supports in their plans to deal with the financial impacts during this time.

Influenza shots will now be made available free to people experiencing homelessness in South Australia ahead of this winter, as the State Government moves to further boost public health.

Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said in the media release that 'the new initiative was another step towards boosting public immunity levels and easing the pressure on the state’s emergency departments as the flu season creeps closer.

“Every year we see a high number of people present to the emergency departments with the flu, so the State Government is taking a proactive step to protect some of our most vulnerable in the community,” Minister Wade said.

The flu vaccine is expected to be available from April. To receive the annual flu vaccine contact your doctor, local council, community health centre, Aboriginal health centre or an approved pharmacy. 

To keep up-to-date on coronavirus seek information from reputable sources including the SA Health latest updates page and the Australian Government Department of Health internet site.