As Adelaide temperatures hit 45 degrees, the South Australian Government called a Code Red emergency response to try and reduce the harmful effects of extreme weather on people sleeping rough.

When a Code Red is called, Baptist Care SA responds by opening the doors of the WestCare Centre chapel so anyone experiencing homelessness has a safe place to sleep overnight. Baptist Care SA is the only South Australian provider to offer overnight accommodation during these times.

In the sweltering heat, a team of staff and volunteers set up portable beds in the air-conditioned chapel. Bottles of water were put on ice and nutritious meals were prepared and served to the 63 people who came to escape the heat and stay with us for two nights.

The lives of people who are sleeping rough are already at risk. Extreme weather places them at an increased and dangerous risk. By keeping the doors of the WestCare Centre open and providing a safe place for people sleeping rough, we can help make the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our community just a bit easier.

WestCare is where Baptist Care SA began 110 years ago. It is the site where the early South Australian Baptists opened a mission to provide a safe place for people living on the streets. Today, it remains a safe place for a community facing issues which are varied and complex.

People of the WestCare community may have lost their job, struggled to find a home, or experienced a relationship breakdown, and are now experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, hunger and health concerns. Whatever brought them to us, we offer everyone a place to sleep, a sleeping bag to keep, meals, and access to showers and a laundry within a caring and accepting space. We also offer access to vital services, such as support for housing and health, which are the first step towards long-term solutions.