SA Housing Trust

Aboriginal Elders will soon have a new home in the southern suburbs!

Last week we visited the new Purrkanaitya Aboriginal Elder Village for a sneak peak at how construction of the first-of-its-kind project is coming together.

The site will offer 40 beautiful single-bedroom units which will bring Elders together in one place, helping to build community and preserve culture. It’s an important targeted housing solution which will also have a range of benefits for South Australians more broadly.

The modern units will be full of natural light, highly energy-efficient and have been designed with improved liveability standards in mind. While all units will be accessible, 10 of them are going even further and being built with specialised cabinets and furnishings which can be lowered for wheelchair users or others with mobility challenges. Common areas and fire pits are also being built as part of the project.

Purrkanaitya is located on Aboriginal-owned and culturally significant land, and represents a collaborative effort between Aborginal Community Housing Limited, Housing Australia, the South Australian Housing Trust, the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, and the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation (KYAC).

Completion of this village is expected later this year, and we can’t wait to see the finished results!

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More public housing is under construction in the southern suburbs!

Another 20 homes are being built in both the inner and outer south which will go to South Australians in need. They’re the latest batch of homes in the area after we've completed previous properties over the past few months.

Most of the new homes are two-bedroom properties but some larger four-bedroom homes are being built as well. They come in different layouts with some being lower maintenance properties, and others offering greater yard space.

In addition to building new homes we’re also renovating older ones, so that we have fewer vacancies and more modern, comfortable housing available for South Australians in Adelaide’s south.

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Mary is one of many South Australians who we’ve helped transition out of homelessness.

When Mary moved to South Australia over 20 years ago she was off to a great start. She completed studies in English proficiency, had a good job, and had saved to buy her own home. Unfortunately, things went wrong with the purchase and Mary soon found herself in difficult situation which led to her losing everything and becoming homeless.

She says she was surprised with how expensive it is to be homeless. “When you’re homeless you have to spend money every day. Everything costs money, even just being able to wash your clothes.”

After sleeping in her car for nearly a year, Mary was referred to our program by homelessness support services and was able to get a fresh start. She was provided with short-term housing and the help she needed to get back on her feet again.

Mary says that when she started the program “I was happy, I became a positive person again. The program staff are my angels, they saved my life.”

Mary has since completed the 3-month program and has now moved into a long-term home as a regular tenant. She’s employed as a support worker and has been able to use what she’s learned from her experience to help other South Australians in need.

“I’m safe, I have a place to live, I’m happy and stable now.” She says.

Our specialised homelessness programs can be accessed by engaging with homelessness support services in the metro area and obtaining a referral. It is not a requirement to apply for public housing to be considered.

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This newly renovated courtyard is going to provide a beautiful shared space for women living in public housing.

It used to be where the bins were kept, but has since been transformed into a garden as part of major renovations at one of our older flat sites in Adelaide, which is now housing for women.

Once the plants are fully grown, the courtyard will not only be a welcoming green area, but some of the creative tenants in the building are also working together to paint a mural on the back wall to truly make the space their own.

In addition to the courtyard, other renovations at the building included upgrading the interiors of all 20 flats, refreshing common areas, improving security, and providing better areas for parking and bin storage.

This location is one of several older flat sites where we’re undertaking significant works to create more modern, comfortable housing. We’re also building brand new flat sites too! It’s all part of our plan to create better homes and neighbourhoods across South Australia.

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Our new Rent-to-Buy homes are popping up all across Adelaide, with the first properties complete and tenanted and many more to come!

The homes come in different types, including both townhouses and single-story detached homes, but all are designed to be modern, affordable properties that will help long-term renters break the cycle and achieve their dream of home ownership.

The scheme works by giving renters the opportunity to purchase their home once they’ve lived in it for two years. During this period they’re charged a reduced rent, allowing them to save more for their purchase. The price to buy the property is locked in from the time they sign their rental lease, so they’re protected from price increases in the housing market while they're saving.

With such high demand for affordable housing right now, the original Rent-to-Buy program has been expanded from 125 homes to an additional 2000 homes under a newly named Rent-to-Own program.

This targeted housing solution will benefit many South Australians, both those seeking to buy a home as well as those struggling to find private rentals.

If you'd like to learn more, check out the link in the comments.

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Natalis has been doing a great job taking care of the garden patch outside his block of flats.

He's been pruning to keep things tidy, as well as growing all sorts of veggies that he and his wife can use in their cooking.

He says that tending the garden has helped him keep busy while he’s been waiting to go back to work again. Natalis learned about gardening from studying horticulture earlier in life and has also done some previous work outdoors in national parks.

Natalis currently lives at one of our older flat sites which will soon be undergoing significant renovation to turn them into modern, safer and more comfortable housing - part of our effort to create better neighbourhoods. While this means tenants will need to relocate to other Trust properties, we hope Natalis will be able to continue his passion for gardening at his new home.

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A new generation of public housing flats are being built across Adelaide.

They’re under construction at three sites across the inner northern, southern and western suburbs, with two of the sites nearing completion soon. Together they’ll provide 46 new homes for South Australians in need.

The modern two-bedroom flats are designed to offer greater comfort, accessibility, and energy efficiency. They’ll all include air conditioning, covered parking, private laundries and beautiful landscaping outside. Some of the sites feature communal garden areas where tenants can work together to grow their own produce.

At the same time we’re building new flats we’re also renovating older ones, with works underway at multiple sites across the metro area. This is just one of the ways we’re delivering on our strategy of building homes and fewer vacancies.

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SA Housing Trust tenants in Port Pirie can now save on their electricity bills!

This opportunity is thanks to a large community battery installed through the emPowering SA program which will help reduce cost-of-living pressures at Trust properties. Eligible tenants who choose to join the program will have access to a special electricity plan at a discounted rate.

👉 If you’re a Trust tenant in Port Pirie and would like to learn more about the program, a drop-in information session will be held on Thursday April 30 at the Port Pirie Sports Precinct. Details in the comments below 👇

The Port Pirie battery is one of 18 community batteries being rolled out across South Australia, with two batteries already operational in suburban Adelaide.

ℹ️ Joining the emPowering SA program does not require installation of solar panels, a battery, or any other changes to the property, so tenants can continue to use electricity the way they do now.

Six vacant public homes are being fixed up by students and job seekers to help prepare them for apprenticeships in the construction industry.

We’ve provided the homes as part of our 2026 employment pathway programs which we operate together with partner organisations across suburban Adelaide and in Whyalla.

The programs give future tradies an opportunity for hands-on learning while also helping get empty properties repaired and ready for new tenants.

Last year these training programs supported a combined 197 high school students and job seekers toward beginning a career in the construction industry, with many going on to secure apprenticeships.

It’s just one of the different ways we’re working to address housing challenges in South Australia, now and in the future.

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