The grim reality of South Australia’s housing crisis has been laid bare as residents of a hidden tent city just metres from Adelaide’s busiest suburban shopping centres are told they have days to pack up and leave.
A 7NEWS investigation has uncovered a cluster of rough sleepers at Edinburgh Reserve, in the south Adelaide suburb of Modbury, some of whom are men recently released from prison. While some are former inmates, all the men camping at the reserve have one thing in common — they say there’s nowhere else for them to go.
Among them is Rob Caldwell, who now calls a patch of dirt in Modbury and his rain‑soaked tent “home”. “We make do with what we’ve got,” he told 7NEWS, standing beside the few belongings that survived last weekend’s downpour. Next to him is Stewart Gardiner, also sleeping rough after serving time for assault. “It’s been alright… the weather’s been a pain in the a**,” he said.
Up to five other men are living in the camp — surrounded by broken bottles, discarded furniture, food scraps and wet blankets. They walk 300 metres to a children’s playground to use the toilets and barbecue, and meals come from a nearby Salvation Army.
Caldwell has been given until Friday to move from Edinburgh Reserve. He said the hardest part of living in the reserve was the monotony. “Getting up… it’s the same thing every day… that’s the hard thing,” he said.
Local concerns and council action
While the men say they’re simply trying to survive, locals say they no longer feel safe. Modbury resident James told 7NEWS his family avoids the reserve at night. “My sister’s learnt not to walk through once it gets dark… she doesn’t like walking through the park at all,” he said.
Tea Tree Gully Council, the local council, said complaints about the situation at the reserve have surged. “Screaming and yelling late at night… waking up young children… that was one of the key issues,” council representative Michael Pereira said. The council has given the men until Friday to pack up and leave.
A small breakthrough
Amid the ultimatum to the men and complaints from locals, 7NEWS began asking questions. Now, there’s been a small breakthrough in the case. The Adelaide North‑West Homelessness Alliance is now working to secure a home for at least one of the men. Advocates warn that housing alone won’t be enough and without ongoing support, the men risk ending up right back where they started.
Local good Samaritan Sonia Blackwell, who’s been helping the group, said the men are being judged unfairly. “They’re good people,” she said.
State Human Services Minister Katrine Hildyard said it was “shocking” the men were living in the park. “I understand why people in that community, in that immediate vicinity are concerned and worried. That is the priority to respond to those issues,” she told 7NEWS.
