Pictured: Hope Street Youth and Family Services (Melbourne,VIC)
Breaking systemic barriers for vulnerable communities
Finding and maintaining a safe place to call home is increasingly out of reach for so many people. For some, it is near impossible and systemic barriers create persistent challenges on the journey away from homelessness, towards safe stable housing.
For Young People, a chronic lack of appropriate youth housing results in young adults aged 19 to 24 years having the highest rate of homelessness of any age group. Although nearly one in four of all people experiencing homelessness (23%) is aged 12 to 24 years, only 4% of public and social housing is allocated to people in this age group.
For those with pets, barriers to accessing inclusive and appropriate accommodation are numerous. Although pets play a critical role in mental and emotional well being, those with a furry friend facing homelessness are regularly refused housing and support because of their pet, and 48% of those escaping violent homes delay leaving, due to the lack of pet friendly accommodation. A recent conference by Lucy’s Project explored the key challenges faced by people and animals escaping domestic violence (read the report here).
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, overrepresentation in the homeless population calls for more culturally informed and community-led approaches to homelessness. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 9 times as likely to experience homelessness than non-indigenous Australians, and return to Specialist Homelessness services at a rate of 71% (higher than the non-indigenous rate of 61%).
So in November and December, we focused on raising funds and awareness to support these three cohorts on the journey towards safe stable housing.
106,000
500
20
Supporting 500 people in areas of high need
Through this grants round, we have been able to seek out and support smaller, grassroot organisations in high-need regions, where homelessness and rough sleeping are being experienced at high rates.
For example, we’ve made two grants in Perth metro, where data from specialist Homelessness Services released in December shows the region as having the highest proportion of clients experiencing homelessness. We also know that homelessness in regional QLD has increased by 29% in the past 4 years, and a grant in Cairns is helping respond locally. Other areas we’ve been able to support include Tweed in NSW, Alice Springs in NT, and Gippsland in VIC.
These 20 grants, powered through our collective giving approach and the generosity of corporates, individuals and philanthropy, are supporting young people, First Nations communities and those with pets towards safe stable housing. Read about how these small community grants are making a difference below…
Pictured: Pets in the Park
“This grant will help us provide a lifeline for individuals facing homelessness, domestic violence, or severe financial hardship by offering temporary shelter and care for their pets. For those with pets, the challenge of finding a safe home is even greater, as few housing options and crisis services accommodate companion animals. This grant will help us cover the cost of emergency pet boarding for clients experiencing homelessness with a pet, meaning that pets have a safe, caring environment while their owners work to stabilise their housing situation “ – Pets of The Homeless (Melbourne, on Wurundjeri Country)
“Housing and housing insecurity in our community is an issue for our mob and we also know that Aboriginal people are more at risk of housing crisis. This grant is helping us support our community who are finding it difficult to maintain and establish tenancy by providing household goods and items and in many cases food and clothing support ” – Bendigo District Aboriginal Corporation (on Dja Dja Wurrung Country)
Pictured: Wilya Janta
“This grant is backing our culturally responsive and environmentally sustainable housing prototype, designed to address the urgent housing needs in remote Aboriginal communities. With this support, we can cover labor costs associated with producing mud bricks for the first “Explain Home” using our mud brick machine” – Wilya Janta in NT ( on Waramungu Country)
“This grant will fund the purchase of Starter Kits for young people moving out of emergency accommodation and into a place of their own. This can include household goods such as cooking equipment or crockery, cleaning goods – whatever the young person needs to establish a home..”– St John’s Youth Service in SA (on Kaurna Country)
Pictured: St Laurence House youth Service
“This funding is boosting our program that helps young people exit homelessness into safe stable housing by providing them with the necessary support and resources to achieve their personal goals. This includes providing access to housing, life-skills development, education, training, employment, access to mental health support services and social skill development” – St Laurence House in NSW (on Gadigal Country)
20 grants across regional and metro Australia
| Organisation | Region | Grant |
| Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative | VIC – Bendigo | $5,000.00 |
| Community Housing Central Australia | NT – Alice Springs | $5,500.00 |
| Darumbal | QLD – Rockhampton | $5,500.00 |
| Hope Street Youth and Family Services | VIC – Metro North | $5,000.00 |
| Inspire Youth and Family Services | QLD – Brisbane | $5,500.00 |
| Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Service | NSW – Port Macqurie | $5,500.00 |
| Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation | VIC – Metro South | $5,000.00 |
| Noongar Mia Mia | WA – Perth | $5,500.00 |
| Pets in the Park (PITP) | VIC – Melbourne | $5,000.00 |
| Pets of the Homeless | VIC- Melbourne | $5,000.00 |
| Quantum Support Services | VIC – Gippsland | $5,000.00 |
| Rainbow Lodge | NSW- Sydney | $5,500.00 |
| Second Chance Animal Rescue | VIC – Melbourne | $5,000.00 |
| Shelter Housing Action Cairns | QLD – Cairns | $5,500.00 |
| South East Community Links | VIC – Metro South East | $5,000.00 |
| St Johns Youth Service | SA – Adelaide | $5,500.00 |
| St Laurence House Youth Service | NSW – Sydney | $5,500.00 |
| The Family Centre | NSW – Tweed | $5,500.00 |
| Veterinary and Community Care | WA – Perth | $5,500.00 |
| Wilya Janta | NT – Tennant Creek | $5,500.00 |
| Total | $106,000.00 |
Our donors and supporters have collectively impacted 500 lives and strengthened 20 smaller grassroots organisations 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. Safe stable housing. Safe Stable housing. Safe stable housing. Safe Stable housing.
