More public housing in SA as wait lists remain high

The state government has pledged to build 564 new homes for those most in need and has stopped the sale of 580 more to help ease the state's housing crisis sparked by high prices in the private sector and a shortage of affordable rentals.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said a safe, secure and affordable home was a fundamental prerequisite to families being able to fully participate in society and the economy.

"For too long, governments of both Liberal and Labor persuasions have sold off our public housing stock, watching on as numbers withered away," he said.

"We are turning that around, making the first substantial real increase in public housing in a generation."

But the government also revealed more than 15,000 people remain on the list for social housing with some waiting years or even decades.

Human Services Minister Nat Cook said of those, about 3000 were considered at high risk of homelessness or were already homeless.

"We are housing people as fast as we possibly can in terms of using the stock that we've got," Ms Cook said.

"But we knew this was incredibly high a couple of years ago in terms of these lists. They have come down a little bit.

"Stubbornly, we still have over 15,000 on the waiting list. There has been inroads made, but we can do more and we will do more."

SA's public housing stocks currently sit at about 33,000 with about 1500 of those vacant for a variety of issues, including ongoing maintenance.

Ms Cook said the wait times for accommodation were based on individual needs, which could change over time.

"We can sometimes get people into a home very quickly and other people I know are very upset at waiting many, many years and sometimes decades for a home," she said.

Under the current construction program work is already under way on 81 homes and contracts for a further 133 have been awarded.

Australian Associated Press