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Overnight Accommodation

Overnight accommodation

When the temperature soars or plummets, Baptist Care SA is the only South Australian provider to open its door to rough sleepers for overnight accommodation.

People sleeping rough are vulnerable and at an increased risk during extreme weather events.

When the SA Govt calls a Code Red or Code Blue, Baptist Care SA responds by opening the doors of the WestCare Church to anyone experiencing homelessness.

We provide a safe place to sleep overnight, a sleeping bag to keep, nutritious meals, hot showers, laundry facilities and connection with further support.

By remaining open overnight, Baptist Care SA offers kindness and connection to those who are most vulnerable in our community. 

Extreme weather response for people sleeping rough

Code Red and Code Blue responses to extreme weather aim to reduce the harmful effects on people sleeping rough.

This is done by:

  • connecting them with support services
  • providing additional services including extended operating hours for services, increased shelter options, additional food services, sunscreen etc.
  • SA Housing Authority coordinates Code Red and Code Blue extreme weather responses across South Australia in partnership with other service providers.

When a Code Red or Code Blue response is activated, homelessness services will visit known rough sleeper locations to make people aware of the supports available to them.

Triggers for Code Red

  • Severe heatwave where the Excess Heat Factor is 1 to 3
  • Extreme heatwave where the Excess Heat Factor is above 3
Excess Heat Factor (EHF) is calculated using a formula which considers the minimum, maximum and average temperatures over a three day period. The State Emergency Service (SES) works closely with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to daily predict the EHF. 

Triggers for Code Blue

  • Extreme weather conditions predicted to continue for at least three days by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) with any two of the following:
    • temperatures dropping below an average night-time low of 6°C
    • significant rainfall causing difficulty for people rough sleeping to remain dry
    • damaging wind gusts pose a high risk for the safety of people rough sleeping.
  • Prolonged cold conditions where the BOM predicts five or more days with average night-time temperatures dropping below 5°C.
  • Any other factors related to extreme winter weather that require a Code Blue response. 

Acknowledgement of Country

Baptist Care SA acknowledges we work on the lands of the Kaurna, Peramangk and Boandik people. We respect the ongoing skilful custodianship of lands, skies and waters and the continuous deep cultural connection with Country. We pay respect to Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from all Countries, Nations and Mobs.

Ngadlu tampinthi Kaurna miyurna yaitya yarta-mathanya Wama. Tarntanyaku, ngadluku piipawarpulayi kuu Kaurna yartangka tikanthi.

(We acknowledge the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains as the traditional owners of the land on which our office sits.)

Ngathu putama nhu mraat, mraat Boandikat wulnuwitjara Berrinat ba mraatat mingru Berrin (I recognise this country (is) the country of the Boandik, the custodians of Mt Gambier and the country around Mt Gambier.)