1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Well, the Heart Street Center, we've known for years, decades 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: the excellent work it does in helping people who are 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: particularly people who are homeless and others who need assistance 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: in various ways. And they have had a big spike. 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: Cost of living has really bitten hard, as we know, 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: across the society in the community, and they have had 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: a big spike in the number of first time visitors 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: walking through their doors, which is pretty sad reflection of 9 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: where we're at really that people who would never have 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: thought they would have needed the help of welfare in 11 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: this way at charity, in this way going to the 12 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: Hart Street Center now asking for help. The man in 13 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: charge is the CEO, Chris Burns, who joins me now. 14 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 2: Chris, Good morning, morning, Massy. Thank you for having me talk. 15 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: Us through what that looks like. What does it mean 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: a spike in numbers? 17 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: Sure, so, just in the last year, using April figures, 18 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 2: we've had a twenty five percent increase in the number 19 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: of visits to our center. To put that in context, 20 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 2: in April last year we had just on three thousand visits. 21 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 2: This April we just had just under four thousand visits. 22 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 2: That's a phenomenal number of people who are experiencing homelessness 23 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 2: coming through our doors looking for our. 24 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: Support set one hundred and twenty five a day or so, 25 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: absolutely one. 26 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 2: Hundred and twenty five today and some days it's spikes 27 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 2: to know, upwards one hundred and fifteen hundred. 28 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: That's unreal. So you wouldn't have the staff to cope 29 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: with that, would you. 30 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: We do because we have some amazing stuff, but we 31 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 2: also have amazing volunteers who when we put out the call, 32 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 2: respond immediately and come in and help us. And it's 33 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: just phenomenal. The volunteers that we do have, we just 34 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 2: always there whenever we call for them, but it is 35 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 2: it is stretching our resources. At the moment, our well 36 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 2: Being Center is solely reliant on those volunteers, on those staff, 37 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: and on the fundraising and donations that we receive. No 38 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 2: government money for our well Being Center. We rely on 39 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: fundraising and donations to keep the doors open and to 40 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: keep food coming through so we can support At nay 41 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:10,839 Speaker 2: On four thousand people. 42 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: Were seeing a month, Chris, the mild weather we've had 43 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 1: up until yesterday, at least, it's been warm, it's been sunny, 44 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: it's you know, obviously no rain, very dry. Does that 45 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: make it better or worse in terms of people needing it? 46 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 2: It makes it slightly better for people who are rough sleeping. 47 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: But the fact is that the people who are coming 48 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: to us now are people, as you said, who have 49 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 2: never thought they would ever experience homelessness, who without any 50 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: virtual wine, have been had to leave their rental accommodation 51 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 2: and are now living in their cars on the street. 52 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 2: So a new demography that's come through over the last 53 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: twelve twelve to eighteen months. And these people when they 54 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 2: come to us, you can see that the shock on 55 00:02:56,240 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 2: their face and the bewilderment. They never thought they'd be 56 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: in this situation, and we go on that journey with 57 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 2: them to get them out of homelessness and into homefulness. 58 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: What do you need now, Chris, We've got the budget 59 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 1: coming up this week next week, in the next few 60 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: days on Thursday. Are you looking for something in that, 61 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: particularly for the Hot Street Center. 62 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 2: Absolutely. Over the last seven years we've been running a 63 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 2: social impact bond that's demonstrated to the state government that 64 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 2: if you don't just house people, but you care for 65 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:37,119 Speaker 2: people beyond housing them and give them a comprehensive, relentless 66 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 2: case management support. Beyond housing them, you actually save money 67 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 2: because you keep people out of hospital, out of the 68 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 2: judicial system, and out of emergency accommodation. And in the 69 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 2: last seven years we save the state government thirty five 70 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: million dollars. What we now need the government to commit 71 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 2: to is ongoing funding of that program so that we 72 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: can continue to support people experiencing chronic homelessness us to 73 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: retain tendencies and save the state government money. It's not 74 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: a cost, it's a saving and we're hoping to see 75 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 2: that in the budget next thursday. 76 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: All right, well, let's hope that is there. You don't 77 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: just get rough sleepers, though, do you coming in You 78 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: get people just needing other forms of assistance as well, 79 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: people who are looking who might be in a rental 80 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: accommodation they have to leave, for instance, and because of 81 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,040 Speaker 1: the cost of rent increasing. 82 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and we won't turn anyone away who's in need. 83 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: But we also support people who are at risk of homelessness. 84 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 2: That is, if we didn't support them by providing with 85 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 2: food and supporting them, they are at risk of losing 86 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: their rental or losing whatever accommodation they are in. So 87 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 2: it's better from our perspective to keep them under a 88 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 2: roof and to support them from that perspective. So we 89 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 2: support anyone who comes to us intenuine need. 90 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: And as we said, it's been dry and okay, you're 91 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: getting people coming to you. Now. Once the rain comes in, 92 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: you must be bracing four and winter really starts to bite. 93 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: And we've got probably five months of that ahead of us. 94 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 1: To be realistic, it's going to be October November before 95 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: the weather starts to improve again. So you've got that 96 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: to come. 97 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and that's hence we're raising the concern now is 98 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 2: to say we need your continued support. In fact, we 99 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: need increased support, which is a lot to ask from 100 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 2: South Australias during a coss a living crisis. But in 101 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 2: just in the last day or so, when you've seen 102 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 2: the rain, if you've seen the scent of the number 103 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:35,919 Speaker 2: of people bringing in cold, cold bedding, cold clothes, just 104 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: wanted to try and get them dry and the sin 105 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: they get themselves dry and get warm clothes on in 106 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: a hot shower, on a warm meal. And yes, you're right, 107 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 2: we've got five months of that to come. 108 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, do you take donations not just financial? I know 109 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 1: you'll take that, but can people drop off food? I mean, 110 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: as long as it's sealed, you know, canned or whatever. 111 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: Is that okay? Do you take that? 112 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 2: Well? Absolutely, and you know, miferably nonperishable in cans that 113 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 2: can be opened and don't require things like can The 114 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: best thing is on it. We have our website which 115 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 2: is hut Street Center dot or dot AREU. We keep 116 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: a current list of all the key items we're hoping 117 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 2: people are able to donate to us, and at the 118 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 2: moment things like sleeping bags, warm clothes, but we're very 119 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 2: keen for any donations that support our clients in the 120 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 2: months ahead. 121 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 1: Chris, I hope it goes well and well, certainly something 122 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: in the budget next week. You're looking for that, as 123 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: you said, and beyond that, I just hope people are 124 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: doing better than what they have been. Although you look 125 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: at that tunnel and I think the light is a 126 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: long way down at and if anything, at the moment 127 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 1: it seems to be a train heading in the wrong direction. 128 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: But we hope people get through this next little time 129 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: and well done on the work you do. 130 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 2: Thank you very much, Matthew, and thank you to all 131 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 2: the South Australians who do support us. So well as 132 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 2: volunteers and as donors. You know we could not for 133 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 2: the doors without them, and now at the time we 134 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: need to continued support. 135 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: Hey, just when I have you the soup kitchen that's 136 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: been running in the city over winter over the last 137 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: few years, is that happening again this year? 138 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 2: No, I don't think it is this year. No, it's 139 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: not from my understanding. I'd have to check that though. 140 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: I think, all right, I'll drop chop this bit out. 141 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: Then I believe it where you left it. Good Chris Burns, Thanks, 142 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: thank you for your time.