Hutt St Centre’s impact report: more than $60m in crisis system expenditure prevented annually

Hutt St Centre has released its first annual Impact Report, which estimates that its integrated support program prevents up to $60 million in government-funded crisis system expenditure annually. 

The Impact Report, which has collated information about client visits, community connections, programs, health and allied support services, accommodation outcomes and training and education, takes operations at Hutt St Centre over the 2024-25 financial year into account. 

CEO Chris Burns said the inaugural Impact Report highlighted the progress, outcomes and learnings from Hutt St Centre’s work supporting people at risk of or experiencing homelessness across Adelaide, in an environment where people are navigating complex and often compounding challenges. 

“The Impact Report has calculated, based on conservative estimates of the annual public cost of chronic homelessness – which is approximately $30,000 to $60,000 per person per year across health, justice and crisis systems – and considering the scale and complexity of clients supported through the Wellbeing Centre, our integrated approach prevented up to $60 million in crisis-system expenditure annually,” Mr Burns said. 

“While these are unrealised costs avoided through preventative, community-funded care, we know that it’s more expensive to leave people homeless than to support them effectively out of it, and we do the majority of our work through donations from our community. 

“Into the future, the Impact Report will allow for more comprehensive reporting, along with providing a greater spotlight on the growing crisis of homelessness in Adelaide, and how much pressure is being placed on not-for-profit services such as Hutt St Centre.” 

The Impact Report reveals: 

• More than 2,850 individuals accessed Hutt St Centre services in 2024-25, with consistent engagement across multiple programs 
• More than two thirds of clients accessed more than one service at Hutt St Centre 
• There were 42,972 visits to the Hutt St Centre Wellbeing Centre 
• Demand for services in the financial year increased by 42 per cent 
• Across South Australia, more than 18,000 people sought support from homelessness services 
• Clients experienced an average 75 per cent increase in their Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) scores  
• 94 per cent of clients supported into housing were able to sustain their tenancy for 6–12 months or more  
• Employment and pathways support connected 50 individuals to work, with 18 people securing and sustaining employment 

Mr Burns said the Impact Report highlighted three emerging trends: demand for services and support was rising; needs were becoming more complex and sustained; and integrated support was critical to ensuring there were long-term, positive outcomes for clients. 

“It is becoming increasingly evident that integrated, wraparound support is essential if we want to support people on their journey to homefulness,” Mr Burns said. 

“Individuals facing homelessness often experience multiple, overlapping challenges, and single services alone are insufficient. Coordinated care, trust-building and consistent engagement are essential to achieving meaningful outcomes, with a focus on person-centred approaches which increase both engagement and impact.” 

Mr Burns said that without significant investment in social housing and homelessness services, Hutt St Centre would struggle to meet growing demands and has forecast that it might be forced to turn people away by 2028. 

To cope with demand, Hutt St Centre is planning to open a community funded wellbeing centre specifically for women and children experiencing homelessness, expand access to integrated, person-centred services and strengthen pathways to long-term housing and employment.