……. Photo: Carevan Blacktown
Collective action tackles poverty and homelessness
In Australia, poverty is not often front of mind but it continues drive systemic disadvantage and homelessness for too many households. So in September and October we launched the collective giving campaign ‘A Fair Go’ to tackle these vulnerabilities. A diverse and generous group of individual donors, corporate partners, and philanthropic trusts have played a collective role to help us fund 20 smaller, grassroots organisations working to reduce poverty and respond to homelessness.
We know that poverty underpins both the risk and perpetuation of homelessness, as it limits our choice and ability to afford a home, enough food, and the means to meet basic standards of living. So throughout July and August we focused on raising funds and awareness to reduce the immediate impacts of poverty and provide pathways towards economic empowerment and housing security for those facing and experiencing homelessness.
100,000
1,902
20
How these grants are making a difference…
This funding is going a long way in helping provide food aid, emergency relief like bill support and travel vouchers, material aid like new clothes, employment opportunities, and tenancy support. We’ve been able to back digital connection and essential aid projects, that help shift the dial on ‘material deprivation’, alongside food and emergency relief programs to stabilise people in crisis. We’ve focused on providing care to those who face systemic barriers to housing, with 25% of those supported impacted by domestic and family violence, 29% children under 12 years old, and 17% are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
At the grassroots level, these grants are providing a vital boost to smaller organisations in areas of high need that are struggling to keep up with the rising demand for their services. For example we have funded organisations in Bankstown NSW, an area with a poverty rate of 28%, and in regional QLD where 80% of the most extreme disadvantaged communities are.
The digital divide affects 1 in 5 Australians – that’s 20% of the population who can’t access, afford or have the ability to engage in digital activities.
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Closing the Digital Divide
“The average cost for us to bring a mobile phone ‘back to life’ is $100 (parts, labour, charging accessories). People with low incomes, those living in public housing and individuals who didn’t complete secondary school are amongst the highest number of digitally excluded Australians. With this grant, we can waive the contribution fee and get 50 phones out to people who are rough sleeping, residing in boarding houses or refuge accommodation.”
– The Reconnect Project on Bidjigal Country in NSW (pictured)
Breaking Barriers to Financial Security
“People facing hardship and disadvantage of some kind – mental health issues, linguistic and cultural barriers to employment, domestic violence, substance abuse and homelessness – fall through the cracks of employment, making them vulnerable to ongoing financial hardship and the consequences that brings. Our support relieves some of the practical barriers (clothing they need and job-seeking advice) as well as giving them confidence, dignity and hope. This grant is helping us continue our new mobile outreach service to reach all communities in need.”
– Ready Set in Naarm VIC (pictured)
These grants are supporting 143 people through training, employment and education opportunities that help to break cycles of poverty and open doors to financial security.
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39% of those impacted through this grant round are young people (29% are children).
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Providing hygiene basics to children and families
“For parents doing it tough, access to free nappies takes away one more stress. It means they can redirect limited funds toward rent, food, or essential bills. We’ve seen firsthand how something so simple can bring relief, dignity, and a sense of hope during really challenging times. This funding will allow us to support vulnerable families, particularly women in women’s shelters escaping family violence, who leave with just the clothes on their back.”
– The Nappy Collective in Naarm (VIC)
Backing community-led solutions in remote regions
“Families in Timber Creek are facing significant challenges driven by isolation, overcrowded housing, and recurring extreme weather. As a remote community, access to essential items is already limited, and during the wet season road closures can cut the town off for weeks at a time. A permanent opshop will strengthen the community’s resilience, enabling a timely, community-led response when roads are cut off, supply chains fail, or families require emergency relief, ensuring that essential items remain accessible when they are needed most.“
– Remote OpShop Project on Larrakia Country NT (pictured)
17% of people supported in this round are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
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1 in 3 projects funded are in regional areas, outside of capital cities.
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Plugging funding gaps for overwhelmed local services
“We currently receive several requests per day for assistance with food. We are not funded for Emergency Relief, with our staff collecting food donations in their own time. So 100% of the grant will be gratefully used to purchase basic food staples that will include long life milk, cereals, pasta and pasta sauce, rice, tea, coffee, noodles, canned seafood & vegetables etc.”
– Chester Hill Neighbourhood Centre on Darug and Eora Country in NSW
Seeking out and supporting 20 smaller grassroots organisations
”We are enormously grateful for this offer of support.
Caroline from Carevan Blacktown in NSW
Our organisation is entirely volunteer-run, and every cent received goes directly toward putting food on the plate for people in genuine need. What may appear simply as a meal and some food support is, in reality, the delivery of compassion, dignity, and a sense of belonging for those experiencing loneliness and isolation - and we cannot do it alone or without real and practical support such as this - so THANK YOU !
| Organisation | State/Region | Grant |
| Base Services | QLD – Regional | $5,000.00 |
| Big Group Hug | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Cann River Community Centre | VIC – Regional | $5,000.00 |
| Carevan Blacktown | NSW – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Chelsea CISS | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Chester Hill Neighbourhood Centre | NSW – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Community Help And Togetherness | SA – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Community Information & Support Cranbourne | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Dressed for Success VIC | VIC – Regional | $5,000.00 |
| Hunter Food Relief | NSW – Regional | $5,000.00 |
| Jika Jika (Northcote Neighbourhood House) | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Kingston East Neighbourhood Group | QLD – Merto | $5,000.00 |
| Nappy Collective | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Ready Set | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Remote Op Shop Project | WA & NT – Regional | $5,000.00 |
| Street Law Centre WA | WA – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Suited to Success | QLD – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Sunshine Bendigo | VIC – Regional | $5,000.00 |
| Tassie Mums | TAS – Hobart | $5,000.00 |
| The Reconnect Project | NSW – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Total | $100,000.00 |
Our donors and supporters have collectively impacted over 1902 people facing homelessness and strengthened 20 smaller grassroots programs on the frontline of the homelessness crisis. We are always interested in connecting with philanthropists, trusts and foundations and companies who are looking to partner for positive impact and respond to homelessness in Australia, please reach out at partners@streetsmartaustralia.org if this sounds like you.
