Coronavirus hotels policy shows governments can tackle street homelessness immediately, advocates say

Care providers say South Australia's move to accommodate rough sleepers during the coronavirus pandemic shows homelessness is not the intractable social problem many believe it to be — and governments have the power to make an immediate impact. Key points: Rough sleepers will be able to stay in hotels and motels under a taxpayer-funded scheme Service providers say it shows homelessness is not an intractable problem An academic says Australians should acknowledge housing as a human right Last week, the State Government announced it would pay to put rough sleepers up in hotels and motels as a measure to protect them from COVID-19, and minimise the spread of coronavirus. Hutt Street Centre chief executive officer Chris Burns said the motels and hotels policy was "a tremendous initiative by the State Government so that we don't have as many people rough sleeping". "Maintaining good hygiene and social distancing is difficult for people experiencing homelessness, in particular rough sleepers," Ms Lensink said. However, Baptist Care SA chief executive officer Graham Brown said the hotels and motels initiative demonstrated that governments were capable of taking major strides toward ending street homelessness in the immediate term.