User:Michelle JP/Adelaide benevolent society

The Adelaide Benevolent Society is an independent not-for-profit, community organisation that provides affordable housing options for aged persons, families, and new arrivals to South Australia. The Society also provides emergency financial assistance for people who are in genuine need.

Services The Society owns 108 units and houses throughout the Adelaide metropolitan area that it rents to persons on lower incomes at rents below market rates. The Society's properties are located at •	Sturt •	Darlington •	Somerton Park •	Eden Hills •	Greenacres •	Blair Athol •	Northfield •	Clearview •	Hampstead Gardens Properties are a mix of one bedroom units and houses. Potential tenants are assessed on a needs basis and against criteria set by the Society. Application forms are available via the Office. The Society acts as a tenancy and property manager. Services to tenants are delivered by a number of partnering agencies.

The Society will assist in an emergency / crisis situation. This may be an illness, accident, a sick child or domestic crisis of some sort. Applications are assessed on a needs basis.

History The Adelaide Benevolent Society was formed at a meeting on 2 February 1849 and named the Adelaide Benevolent and Stranger's Friend Society Incorporated. The minutes of this meeting record that the chairman referred to "certain cases of sickness and subsequent death of strangers in the city for want of timely advice and benevolent assistance" The meeting proceeded to form the Society, having as its object "pecuniary relief to the sick and indigent, especially among newly arrived immigrants" Work for the Society grew as the need for its services increased in the 1870s. The Society's work amongst the poor and the sick continued during the economically depressed years from the late 1880s and 1890s through to the first decade of the 20th century.

It was during this period that the Society was able to finance the construction of its own building with a bequest of 1000 pounds from Sir Thomas Elder. Elder Hall was completed in 1898 and is still used by the Society as its office, located still at 17 Morialta Street Adelaide. From its inception, one of the Society's main aims was the provision of cheap accommodation. This began to be realised from the 1869 as it firstly rented and then subsequently purchased cottages in the city. These cottages were eventually replaced by units in the northern and southern suburbs. Beside the provision of subsidised accommodation, the Society assists people with food vouchers and the cost of utilities, and helps out in cases of unforeseen emergency.

A number of prominent Adelaide families were associated with the administration of the Society. In particular George Fife Angas and his son JH Angas, who both served as vice presidents of the Society and made large financial contributions. Sir John Colton, twice Premier of South Australia, was president from 1872 until his death in 1902.

Contact Adelaide Benevolent Society Inc. 17 Morialta Street Adelaide SA 5000 http://www.adelaide.org.au