School FAQS

People working in the homelessness sector often say ‘people experiencing homelessness’ instead of ‘the homeless’ or ‘homeless people’.  This is because for most people homelessness is an experience (often short term) not a life sentence. Saying ‘experiencing homelessness’ is one of the first steps to changing the perception of homelessness. 

There are 7,428 people experiencing homelessness in South Australia, which is a 19.3% increase since the 2016 Census. In Australia 122,494 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness on Census night in 2021. (2021 ABS Census).

There are a number of places people who are homeless stay. These include (2021 ABS Census): 

• Living in 'severely' crowded dwellings (39%) 

• Supported accommodation (20%) 

• Staying temporarily with other households (18%) 

• Staying in boarding houses (14%) 

• Living in improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out (6%) and 

• Staying in other temporary lodging (3%) 

The most common reasons people find themselves facing homelessness include: 

• 54% have experienced family or relationship breakdown 

• 53% of people become homeless after losing their accommodation, like the end of a lease agreement 

• 39% are facing financial difficulties 

• 39% have experienced family and domestic violence 

• 34% are suffering from mental health issues 

(Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020-2021 Annual Report) 

Asking why someone is homeless is not an easy to question to answer nor is there ever one particular reason why someone may find themselves without a home. Below are some factors that can lead to homelessness: 

• Lack of affordable and available rental housing 

• Domestic and family violence  

• Intergenerational poverty  

• Financial crisis, difficulties or income security 

• Employment, education and training issues 

• Economic and social exclusion (a minority group/feeling different from others, feeling misplaced). 

• Young people exiting state care  

• People exiting prison  

• Grief and loss 

• Addiction issues such as drug and alcohol use, or gambling 

• Legal issues 

• Natural disasters 

• Trauma and abuse (physical, sexual and emotional) 

Thank you for being so caring and thoughtful. It’s important to be respectful and non-judgemental when offering to help someone you think is experiencing homelessness. Every single person has their own story, and own challenges they are facing.

Here are two practical ways you can offer to help: Have the Homeless Connect SA phone number saved in your phone, and let people know they can call Homeless Connect 24/7 for support, it’s a free call on 1800 003 308. Use the Street Connect online portal to refer someone you think might be sleeping rough to specialist homelessness outreach workers.

There are many impacts that come with experiencing homelessness. People experiencing homelessness often share that they struggle to feel meaning in each day. Other challenges include:  

• Loneliness and isolation. 

• Being at risk of violence on the streets or in shared accommodation. 

• Poor environment for physical and mental health. 

• Exposure to dangerous weather conditions.  

There are stereotypes and myths about homelessness that are unhelpful and get in the way of the truth. Learn the truth about homelessness so that when you’re talking with other people about homelessness you can help them to have a better understanding too. Here are three myths to get you started. 

• Myth #1 Only older men become homeless. Truth: both men and women of all ages experience homelessness. 

• Myth #2 People who are homeless just need to get a job. Truth: Over 85% of people who come to Hutt St Centre have an employment history. Many people need a home to start work again. 

• Myth #3 Homelessness could never happen to me or my family. Truth: homelessness can and does impact anyone.  

Hutt St Centre is voice for systematic change in the homelessness sector. Through our active advocacy, our fundraising initiatives, our unrelenting support and our culture of ingrained respect, we are working to change negative attitudes towards people experiencing homelessness in society. 

Homelessness is a complex issue. There are many reasons why people experience homelessness, and it’s often not a straightforward journey to finding a safe and secure place to call home. Australia is the fifth wealthiest country in the world. But a lack of affordable rental properties and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is forcing people into homelessness with no clear solution. 

The Daughters of Charity established Hutt St Centre in 1954.

Hutt St Centre offers lots of services, so that every person who comes to our Centre can have their most basic needs met. Some of these services include: 

• Breakfast and lunch in a warm, indoor dining room 

• Showers, toilets, and a laundry for washing clothes 

• Lockers for safely storing personal belongings 

• Free material aid, including clothing and toiletries 

• Visits from nurses, doctors and dental clinics 

• Support to find housing and employment 

• Arts, music, gardening groups and other great activities to enjoy, learn skills and build a community.  

At Hutt St Centre we know homelessness is more than not having a roof over your head. To care for people’s emotional and spiritual wellbeing in this difficult experience we offer pastoral care and counselling to provide a listening ear, and social groups to foster positive connection and a healthy sense of community. 

Often, the first reason someone comes to Hutt St Centre is for a meal. When someone is experiencing homelessness for the first time they can be understandably overwhelmed, and initially not know where to seek support or what support services are available to them. People will come to Hutt St Centre for many different reasons, but common reasons include for a nutritious meal if they’re hungry, hot showers, and help to find housing.

No, Hutt St Centre does not have accommodation. Our dedicated team of Case Workers support people experiencing homelessness to get into emergency accommodation, transitional housing, or permanent housing. 

Hutt St Centre works with adults experiencing homelessness, and not with children. However, we do have an onsite Family Room, where children can relax in their own space, play with toys and feel comfortable while their parent or guardian is seeking support from our staff. 

With increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness due to the cost-of-living and housing crises, Hutt St Centre has been increasing the number of visiting services available onsite to meet the varying needs of people seeking help.  

There are two feedback machines located within Hutt St Centre, for visitors to input their feedback on our services. This feedback is crucial to understanding how we can best support people through tough times. This includes details like what the most popular nutritious meals are, what material support is needed, desired health services, ideas for new social groups to foster connection, and more.  

Our volunteers come from different walks of life but together share the same heart for making a difference. To volunteer at Hutt St Centre, you must be 18 years old or over. Volunteer roles include helping prepare and serve meals, laundry service, and short-term roles for Walk a Mile in My Boots. Please follow the link to read more: https://www.huttstcentre.org.au/get-involved/volunteer   

Hutt St Centre accepts both financial and material goods donations to support people experiencing homelessness. Donations are critical to the provision of our services including meals, showers, healthcare, and laundry. Financial donations go the furthest by ensuring that Hutt St Centre can continue to operate and meet the needs of people seeking help. Read more about donating: https://donate.huttstcentre.org.au/. Donating goods such as non-perishable food, clothing, and toiletries is a valuable way to care for people doing it tough. For more information on donating goods visit: huttstcentre.org.au/get-involved/donategoods. 

Homelessness is a complex issue, and it can feel overwhelming and too hard to make a difference. But you can help Hutt St Centre. You can have an impact on the lives of people doing it tough. Here are suggestions for you can help: 

• Run a fundraising event or challenge to raise financial support from friends, family, school, or your sport club, and help fund essential services at Hutt St Centre. Click here to read more and setup a fundraiser. 

• Step up for Walk a Mile in My Boots. Schools across South Australia participate in Walk a Mile in My Boots each year in August - walking, fundraising, and learning about homelessness and Hutt St Centre to create awareness and a positive impact. Click here to learn more about Walk a Mile in My Boots.

Hutt St Centre supports anyone experiencing homelessness. However, women experiencing homelessness can face unique challenges and benefit from support that is specifically tailored to their needs. To help women visiting Hutt St Centre, we run a monthly women’s-only event called IGNITE with female guest speakers sharing on important topics of health, wellbeing, self-esteem, and planning for the future. IGNITE also includes afternoon tea, activities and games, free clothing, toiletries, and female hygiene products. IGNITE is a popular event for women experiencing homelessness and a great environment for women to build meaningful friendships and access support in a comfortable setting for people who may feel uneasy around men.   

Providing a freshly cooked breakfast and lunch is vital for supporting the health, wellbeing and dignity of people seeking support to end their homelessness. And while our Kitchen Manager is a thrifty menu planner, running an operation of this scale inevitably creates food scraps. That's why we work with the team at Jeffries to manage our organic recycling, helping improve our sustainability and make a positive impact for the environment. The organics bin can fill up to two or three times each week. Jeffries Compost Service then collects and recycles the food scraps, diverting them from landfill and turning them into high-quality compost, soil and mulch for South Aussie gardeners.  

Click here to read our Annual Report for a detailed look at the key statistics for how many people accessed support at Hutt St Centre, and what support they accessed.

Hutt St Centre collaborates with both the Federal and State Governments as well as other organisations in the homelessness sector. Aspire is a three-year Case Management program at Hutt St Centre based on a housing first approach, with long-term support provided to participants through Case Workers to help people find housing, stay in their homes, and achieve other goals to rebuild their lives. Hutt St Centre has received State Government funding to extend the Aspire Program. Hutt St Centre is a member of the Toward Homelessness Alliance, working in collaboration with other specialist homelessness organisations to prevent and end homelessness. 

Hutt St Centre relies on the generosity of our community’s donations to keep our doors open and provide essential services to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Government funding is critical for the provision of case management programs. Read our Annual Report for more information. 

Hutt St Centre releases two newsletters each year in Autumn and Spring. Each newsletter contains stories of hope and transformation from the people who walk through our doors, and updates on how our services are changing lives. Sign up here.

At Hutt St Centre, we describe homefulness as more than just having a roof over your head. It’s about feeling safe, secure, and in control of your own space. It’s about belonging, independence, and knowing you have the support to build the future you deserve. 

Step up for Walk a Mile in My Boots each August and help provide essential services to people experiencing homelessness.

Be an Angel For a Day. A gift of $400 helps provide up to 200 nourishing meals daily for people experiencing homelessness in Adelaide.

Learn about homelessness so you can help people doing it tough.

Consider leaving a gift in your Will. By leaving a gift in your Will, you'll help ensure our work to support the most vulnerable people in our community continues.

Please click here to read about the impact on our work resulting from our connection with the Daughters of Charity.

Here are some verses from the Bible that you might find helpful: Proverbs 22:9, Proverbs 14:31, Deuteronomy 15:11, Luke 3:11, 1 John 3:16-18

Our vision is to end homelessness. Our mission is to advocate with and empower people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, supporting them to rebuild their lives on their pathway to homefulness. 

We describe homefulness as: Having a place to live with a sense of security, stability, privacy, safety and the ability to control living space. Homefulness empowers a sense of independence and self-determination.  Click here to read more. 

The core values of the Daughters of Charity guide us in achieving our mission  

• Respect each person: A high regard for the worth and dignity of each person. 

• Provide quality service: Responding to the needs of others in a caring 

• and professional manner. 

• Encourage simplicity: Honesty, integrity, transparency and clarity of focus. 

• Advocate: Lobbying, advocacy and supporting the cause for people most disadvantaged in our society. 

• Boundless creativity: Boundless creativity and innovation in service delivery. 

There are so many great ways your school can make a difference. Here are three options.

1. Join Walk a Mile in My Boots with your school. Bring your school community together for a great cause and empower your students to create real impact. It's an unforgettable school experience – and you'll change the lives of people in South Australia Australians facing homelessness. Click here to learn more.


2. Your school can donate material items to help ensure Hutt St Centre has all the essential supplies needed to care for people who walk through our doors. Click here more for information on donating goods.

3. Listening with kindness. Be kind and respectful to people experiencing homelessness, and to everyone around you. Acting with kindness and good listening goes a long way to showing people they are valued. Every person you come across has their own unique story to tell. Thank you for your compassion.