Social Housing in SA Set for Revamp

South Australia is planning to modernise its social housing system by delivering a more efficient and transparent service.

The SA Government is set to consult with key stakeholders to establish the best way to ensure more South Australians can become home owners.  

The move is part of the Marshall Liberal Government’s $550 million housing and homelessness strategy, Our Housing Future 2020-2030, which was launched in 2019.

SA Minister for Human Services, Michelle Lensink, said that updating the social housing system would lead to a brighter future for more South Australians.

“It’s been more than a decade since the state’s social housing system underwent significant reform and through these changes, we’re modernising the system to create a fairer, better and more efficient system for South Australians using it,” he said.

At present, South Australia has a high threshold for social housing eligibility, and the new changes will see the current system streamlined to ensure those most in need can receive housing support.

Social housing should be for our most vulnerable, but the current overly generous social housing eligibility criteria means we are not targeting our services to those most in need – and that’s what we’re intending to reform.

SA Minister for Human Services, – Michelle Lensink

“Any change to eligibility criteria will only affect new customers and tenants already in social housing will not be affected.”

Other elements of social housing the consultation will focus on include a better online service, a new social housing register and moderate-income rent reforms.