State cuts funding for Second Chances hub supporting families of prisoners
The not-for-profit Second Chances, which runs a multi-agency hub for prisoners' families, victims of domestic violence and the homeless, has been told its state funding will end at year-end.
Second Chances operates a pioneering hub in Adelaide’s southern suburbs that consolidates services for families of inmates, domestic-violence survivors and people exiting prison, offering everything from emergency accommodation to employment opportunities through its café and second-hand store. The organisation recently helped Oscar, a 12-year-old whose parents are both in prison, secure temporary housing and school support.
Director Sam Narroway, a former prisoner, says the hub serves about 100 visitors daily and aims to expand with additional counseling and training spaces. However, the Department of Human Services has announced that funding will cease at the end of the calendar year, citing budget constraints. While the government claims it is exploring ways to maintain the partnership, Narroway warns that losing the grant could jeopardise the hub’s existence and increase pressure on already overstretched domestic-violence and homelessness services.
Why it matters
Cutting funds could leave vulnerable families without coordinated support, worsening cycles of crime and homelessness.
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