A semi-useful list of Adelaide welfare joints (updated 11 August 2019)
The big shock of homeless welfare is seeing scammers drive up in fancy cars, flash a card, and leave with bundles of whatever they want. They have learned how to play the game. Each charity and government agency provides a certain amount of store vouchers per person per year. Some people even get petrol cards to fuel them to the next charity.
Meanwhile, when you as a homeless person arrive, welfare staff will accuse you of being insincere, a drug addict, alcoholic, or someone having “mental health issues” and repeatedly refer to your “crisis”.
The trick is not reacting with anger or despair because eventually you’ll be promoted to being a “hard case” and given access to dozens of services, especially when you move into housing and no longer need it.
What each welfare joint offers constantly changes. You never know what to expect. That’s why it is necessary to hit as many places as frequently as possible.
You may obtain cheques and gift cards for food utility bills, rent arrears, second-hand whitegoods, tuition fees, blankets, sheets and tents, bus and train tickets, swags, clothing and hats, pharmaceuticals, shoes, sunglasses, needles, condoms, toiletries, pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, electrical goods, furniture and beds, bicycles, cameras, coffee and loans.
Other opportunities may include black water rafting in caves under the Nullabor Plains.
This list is incomplete so your corrections and additions will be appreciated by sending them to [email protected] or The Contact Page.
Adelaide CBD homeless welfare joints
Our Street Family Matters Free breakfast every Saturday at 9:15am outside the medical centre near the corner of Hutt Street and South Terrace, Adelaide. They also give away toiletries, used clothing and other stuff suitable for those living outside.
Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Persons 32 Moore St, Adelaide Ph 8232 0048 Emergency food if no other source available Free lunch forever if you sign up for their free rehabilitation program. Soup Van Sunday to Friday in Hurtle Square at 6:00pm from May to October.
Hutt Street Centre 258 Hutt Street, Adelaide ph 8418 2500 Monday to Friday 7:30am to 1:00pm Appointments can be made for the afternoons
City Salvos Adelaide 277 Pirie St, Adelaide Ph 8227 0199 Monday to Friday 9am - 3pm except Wednesday when it is open 9am - 12 noon Closed 12.30pm - 1.15 pm Phone at 9am for a next day appointment
St Luke’s Anglican Church 35 Whitmore Square, Adelaide ph 8231 4149 Emergency food assistance for people with pension or health care card Mon – Fri 9am to 12 noon
Westcare (Baptist)
Millers Court (off 212 Wright Street) Adelaide ph 8118 5200 Pick up fruit, vegetables and bread from about 10:00am No questions asked. For meals see Free Food chapter For larger amounts make an appointment to see social worker from Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm. Eligibility: Individuals and families experiencing poverty, homelessness, drug dependence or unemployment.
Adelaide Benevolent Society
17 Morialta St, Adelaide Ph 8231 5321 Money for utility bills, rent arrears, second-hand whitegoods, tuition fees and other purposes. Applications must be made through a financial counsellor via larger welfare organisations such as Uniting Care, UnitingSA, the Salvation Army, etc.
Suburban and Country Adelaide welfare joints
Anglican Church
Anglicare St Hilary's 1 William St Morphett Vale 5162 Ph 8392 3190 Food and material help available from the Court House at 3 William St, Morphett Vale on Mon - Fri 9:00am - 12:00pm. Bread distribution on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30-11:00am
Elizabeth Mission (AnglicareSA) 91-93 Elizabeth Way Elizabeth (near the shopping centre) Ph 1 800 061 551 or 08 8209 5400 Phone 9:00 - 9:15 am Monday to Friday for appointment later in the day Vouchers from $15 to $50 to purchase food past the Use-By date at much lower prices than supermarkets. Also, fruit and vegetables. You can get this once every two months.Health Care or Pension Card required.
(connected with Anglicare Elizabeth Mission) 9 Mary St Salisbury, SA 5109 ph 8256 2170 or 1800 773 277 for emergency assistance Call 9am–9.30am weekdays for appointments
Mary's Pantry
Anglican Church Hall Wallaroo (opposite the Wallaroo Primary School) Wednesday and Friday 10.00m-12.00 midday Drop in, no appointment necessary Food, clothing, blankets, toiletries, hygiene products, diapers, petrol vouchers. Financial Counselling Coffee/tea/biscuits. Requires that you have a current health care card. Nobody turned away but a good story often helps.
Picket Fence St Mary's Anglican Church 1167 South Road, St Mary’s Ph 08 8374 2522 Mon, Thurs, Fri 11am - 3pm Emergency assistance
Baptist Church
Clovercrest Baptist Church Inc. 2 Famechon Cres, Modbury North 5092 ph 8397 9400 Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Pathway Community Centre provides emergency food hampers, counselling and referral
Edwardstown Baptist Church Market Corner of Rothesay Avenue and Doreen Street, St Marys. Phone 8276 1040 Tuesdays 10am to 12:00 noon. Thursdays 10:00am to 2:00pm. Free. They prefer you show a Health Care Card. One visit every 2 weeks for fruit and vegetables. Once every 4 weeks for grocery items.
Christies Beach Baptist Church Fowey St, Christies Beach ph 7200 5611 Emergency assistance, including food - Tues and Fri 9.30 - 11am, ring at 9am for an appointment on the day (closed school holidays)
Grange Baptist Church Corner of Surrey and Beach Streets, Grange ph 8355 0610 or 0402 140 604 Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Free food parcels to persons referred by Charles Sturt Council (whatever this means)
Aberfoyle Park Baptist Church Corner of Manning Rd and Lyn St Aberfoyle Park, SA 5159 Australia Ph 08 8270 4316 Emergency food assistance for postcode 5159
Catholic
St Vincent de Paul Adelaide 202 Franklin St Adelaide, SA 5000 Ph 08 8112 8700 or 1300 729 202 Mon - Fri 9am - 4.45pm. Emergency assistance - by home visits only (no off-street assistance provided)
St Vincent de Paul Christies Beach Christies Beach Family Centre, 27b Beach Road, Christies Beach ph 8112 8720 Office Fri 9am - 4.30pm Ph 1300 729 202 Assistance Mon - Fri 9am - 1pm Food Assistance by appointment only. Tues and Thurs at 49 Beach Rd, Christies Beach and Tues, Wed, Fri 10.30am - 1pm at 7 Stewart Avenue, Aldinga.
Mary of Galilee Catholic Church Quinliven Road, Aldinga ph 0488 287 552 1300 729 202 St Vincent de Paul assistance Food on Tuesdays from St Vincent de Paul
St Luke's & Seaford Catholic Churches corner of Honeypot Rd and Goldsmith Dr Noarlunga Downs, 5168 ph 8382 1717 Church office 8392 4519 Seaford Emergency food assistance for postcodes 5163-5168, Mon 10am-1pm, ring 9am for same day appointment.
Church of Christ Community Care Brighton 69 Sturt Rd, Brighton, SA 5048 ph 8298 7677 Mon - Wed and Fri 10am - 1pm. Closed Thursday Client must live in area designated Emergency assistance - food and vouchers available to individuals and families who are unable to provide basic necessities due to exceptional circumstances. Referral preferred, identification showing current address is essential. Centrelink Pension or Health Card preferred Referrals to other agencies provided No appointment necessary
Noarlunga Centre Church of Christ 165 Beach Road Christie Downs ph 8326 1153 Care Works Mon, Wed, Fri 10am-12 noon, ring for appointment after 9am on the day. Must reside in postcode areas 5158 to 5174 and produce Health Care Card or pension identification with address
Lutheran
Lutheran Community Care 309 Prospect Road Blair Athol ph 8269 9300 Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Emergency relief
Calvary Lutheran Church ph 8382 5099 5 Windsong Ct, Morphett Vale Food assistance - Thurs 10am - 11.30am by appointment, during school term - post codes 5162 to 5165 or 5168 (Noarlunga Downs). Must book after 9am
Salvation Army Marion Cnr Sturt Road and Morphett Road Seacombe Gardens ph 8377 001 Mon - Fri from 9:00am
Salvation Army Elizabeth East 39 Kinkaid Rd Elizabeth East, SA 5112 ph 8255 8811 Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9.30am - 2.30pm. Phone from 9am for same day appointment or use the "walk in" service (no phone appointment needed) Fridays from 9.30am. "Current ID" (does not need to be centrelink card)
Salvation Army Norwood 55 George St Norwood, 5067 ph 8332 0283 Mon and Fri 10am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 2:30pm by appointment only
Salvation Army Noarlunga Corps 186-188 Elizabeth Rd Morphett Vale 5162 ph 8384 6014 Community Services Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs, 9am - 12 noon, ring for appointment at 8.45am Emergency assistance - food assistance, chemist, Telstra, clothing and some furniture
Salvation Army Community Support Services 1-7 Gray Street, Kilkenny 5009 ph 8445 2044 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9am - 2.45pm Wed 9am - 12.30pm Telephone for appointment at 9am Emergency assistance - food
130 Pimpala Rd Morphett Vale 5162 ph 8322 5720 ADRA - food assistance Thurs, ring church to leave message to be contacted for an appointment. Health Care Card required
Bill payments, petrol vouchers food,diapers, furniture, counselling, assistance to families (women) fleeing domestic violence situations.
Queenstown Seventh Day Adventist Church
Corner of Webb and Spring Streets, Queenstown Thursdays 10:00am to 12:00noon. A paltry amount of free fruit, vegetables and bread then a little shop of out-of-date groceries at quite high prices.
Uniting Church
St Andrew’s by the Sea Uniting Church Jetty Road, Glenelg ph 8295 1771 For people in a wide range of suburbs centred on Glenelg.
Woodcroft Christian Centre 44 States Road Morphett Vale SA Phone: 0883250484 Monday to Friday 9am-to 5pm email: [email protected] Supermarket Vouchers, food, clothing, hygiene products, bus tickets
Must have a current health care card and live in the local area.
The Vines Uniting Church 152 Reynell Rd Woodcroft 5162 ph 08 8322 8661 Food assistance available Wednesdays 9.30-10.30am to clients living in the area bounded by Wheatsheaf, Kenihans, Piggot Range and South roads - leave name, address and phone number on answering machine at other times.
Uniting Church - Salisbury Corner of Brown Tce and Park Tce, Salisbury 5108 ph 8258 2675 Office: Mon - Thurs 9.30am - 3.30pm Emergency assistance and food parcels
Uniting Care Wesley Bowden Inc. (UCWB) 77 Gibson St Bowden 5007 ph 8245 7100 Emergency assistance: Mon - Fri 10am - 2pm People in need living in the western and some north-western suburbs of Adelaide; Port Augusta and Port Lincoln Food
58 Dale St Port Adelaide 5015 Australia Ph 08 8440 2299 UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide Inc. Monday to Friday 9:00am to 1:00pm Food Cards for Coles and bread everyday from their freezer. Individuals and families living in the outer western suburbs of Adelaide, who have a Health Care Card or a Pension Card. Applicants can receive two payments in any 12 month period.
UCare Gawler Inc. Tod St Gawler 5118 ph 08 8522 4522 Emergency food for Residents of Gawler district and areas north of Gawler.
(SEEDS Uniting Church Aberfoyle Park) 42 Sunnymeade Dr, Aberfoyle Park5159 ph 8358 6960 Mon - Thurs 9am - 4pm Food assistance limited to residents of postcode 5159
Independent
Arise Christian Church McLaren Vale Institute Hall, McLaren Vale. 5171 ph 8322 7788 Helping Hand Food Pantry Wed and Thurs, by appointment, 9.30am-12.30pm
Beacon Emergency Services C/-Blackwood Church and Church of Christ, Shepherds Hill Road Blackwood Ph 0410 002 909 Every Wednesday 9am-1pm Drop in, no appointment necessary
Supermarket Vouchers/Bill payment service Financial counselling/food/blankets/hygiene products/tea/coffee/biscuits/chat Need to live locally and have a current health care card. No other ID required.
North East Community Assistance Project Inc. (NECAP) 489 North East Rd Hillcrest, 5086 ph 8266 2780 Free Linen (bedding), furniture. No food as NECAP lost funding for that service. Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm Appointment necessary. Eligibility: Low income earners living in the (former) Enfield A and Tea Tree Gully council areas and areas bounded by the River Torrens. Evidence of financial need required such as a Centrelink income and assets statement.
Aldinga Community Centre, Stewart Ave, Aldinga Beach. 5173 ph 8557 7707 Food Parcels Mon and Wed 9.40am - 12 noon, ring Mon and Wed 9 - 9.30am for appointment Bread distribution Thurs 8.30 - 9.30am Low income earners from postcodes 5172 to 5174
CLAIRE CHRISTIAN FINANCIAL COUNSELLING SERVICES
8 Burton Street Clare SA 5453 Phone: 08-88421134 Tuesdays and Thursdays 9.30am-12.30 midday Emergency Food assistance PETROL VOUCHERS Appointment necessary. Must live locally or have a good story (stranded travellers/transients and or homeless etc. NOT TURNED away!)
COMMUNITY CARE PANTRY CONTACT: RHONDA LOECHEL. PO BOX 340, BIRDWOOD SA EMAIL: [email protected] NO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA- FREE FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR ANYONE IN NEED.
653 Port Rd Woodville Park 5011 ph 8345 2455 or 0412 462 785 Sun 10am, Thurs 5pm - 7pm Emergency food parcels (by appointment)
Kickstart for Kids
ph 0400 005 880 Breakfast, lunch and mentoring program at schools across Adelaide metro and country areas Support breakfast programs in southern suburbs with delivery of food on Fridays
Marion LIFE Community Services Inc
887 Marion Road, Mitchell Park 5043 ph 8277 0304 Mon - Thurs 9am - 12 noon Emergency assistance - food and vouchers.
The Stables Christian Centre Inc.
Piece 12, Brodie Rd Huntfield Heights, 5163 ph 8326 4455 Office Office Mon - Fri 9am - 3pm Emergency assistance Mon, Tues and Thurs 10-11am for food parcels, ring no later than 9.30am the day for an appointment. Bread only distribution Wed - Fri from 9am onwards
87a Dyson Rd Christies Beach, SA 5165 ph 8384 4193 Christies Office, Thursday 8218 0700 Head Office Emergency financial and food assistance for ex offenders and their families - criteria applies
Genesis Pregnancy Support (Pro-birth)
2 Brooker Street Terrace Cowandilla SA Free support/advice and material support for teenagers/women experiencing an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. Phone- 08-83524044 Free Pregnancy Testing available Free post pregnancy contraception assistance Post Termination telephone counselling, available Free material support for pregnant (unwed) and or abandoned mothers (nappies, prams, strollers, formula, shelter, parenting classes etc) Monday to Friday- 9.30am-4.00pm Appointment necessary. NO G.P or Social Worker/Agency Referral required.
9 McKinna Road, Christie Downs 5164 Australia ph 8326 2244 Food parcels available Tues and Wed 9.30am - 12.30pm, ring same day for appointment 9.30 - 10am
Ruf Us
Free beds, furniture, appliances, sheets for people moving from outside into a house or unit. ph 0418 784 753
corner of Main St and Grand Blvd, Seaford 5169 ph 8392 4522 General enquiries ph 8392 4524 Manager Food assistance (vouchers) - Tues and Thurs 10.10am-12 noon by appointment from 9am Coffee and Chat Wed 9.45am, free