Eleanora Centre homeless shelter in south Adelaide closes amid declining demand
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A homeless shelter that has been running for more than 30 years south of Adelaide has closed after "running down" its financial reserves over several years.
The 26-bed Eleanora Centre, a self-funded agency of the Uniting Church, opened in 1980 and provided crisis accommodation to homeless adults in the Noarlunga area.
Board chairman Don Hopgood said the centre had been running at a loss and could no longer afford to operate.
"For several years now we have been running down our reserves because we have never been able to attract enough people to meet costs," he said.
The centre charges homeless people a small fee to stay in the centre but, unless it is at capacity, those fees do not cover its costs.
The Eleanora Centre received referrals from local and city hospitals, Housing SA, Centrelink and other agencies as well as walk-ins, but Mr Hopgood said in recent years demand had declined.
"We are of course an alcohol and drug-free place. That might be less attractive … than other places that might be a little more free and easy on the alcohol side," Mr Hopgood said.
There are still two people at the centre waiting to move into other accommodation.
The board is in negotiations with Uniting Care Wesley Port Adelaide, which plans to take over the site.
"They will provide some sort of housing service, as we understand it, but really it is up to them exactly how they will provide the service," Mr Hopgood said.
Topics: homelessness, charities-and-community-organisations, community-and-society, community-organisations, noarlunga-downs-5168, adelaide-5000
