Pictured:Nyoongar outreach Services (Perth, WA)
Immediate care and support for those sleeping rough
Rough sleeping is a brutal and exhausting experience. Without adequate shelter people are exposed to the harsh elements of extreme weather, and face complex challenges to accessing basic health services. Life expectancy for this group is around 44 years of age, thirty below the general population.
Increasing numbers of people sleeping rough is a result of our housing crisis. More and more families, people in employment, and individuals who have never sought help before are living in tents, cars, makeshift shelters, or the street. We’ve seen a 23% rise in people leaving specialist homelessness services into rough sleeping, with no accommodation or housing options.
In July and August our StreetSmart donor and supporter community rallied to raise awareness and funds to care for those sleeping rough. Their generosity has enabled us to fund 15 grassroots services across Australia to provide healthcare, clothing, food, hygiene packs, laundry and shower services, and housing support.
“Many people are finding themselves asking for support for the first times in their lives. This grant means we can provide sleeping bags, tents, swags, hygiene packs, and food packs to all those in our community who are experiencing homelessness through rough sleeping, in cars, couch surfing, tents or makeshift shelters.“– Mama Lana’s in Sydney, NSW (on Dharug Country)
77,450
1,460
15
Collective action targets most vulnerable in areas of high need
Through this round of community grants we have been able to support programs that are delivering support in evidence-based and client-centric ways. This includes Assertive Outreach programs like Nyoongar Outreach Services and Housing First collaborations like Frankston Zero and Port Philip Zero, with a focus on housing solutions.
As always, we have sought out and supported smaller, grassroots organisations in areas of high need. For example in Dandenong VIC where homelessness rates have increased by 106%, and Perth where numbers of people sleeping rough rose by 113.8% in the last census.
15 grants helping care for those sleeping rough
| Organisation | State / Region | Grant Amount |
| BAYCISS | VIC – Bayside | $5,000.00 |
| Bruthen & District Neighbourhood House | VIC – Gippsland | $5,000.00 |
| Casey North Community Information and Support | VIC – Casey | $5,000.00 |
| Community Accommodation Support Agency (CASA) | QLD – Mackay | $5,350.00 |
| Cornerstone Contact Centre (Dandenong Zero) | VIC – Dandenong | $5,000.00 |
| Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service Inc. | VIC – Belgrave | $5,000.00 |
| Frankston Zero – (Launch Housing) | VIC – Mornington Peninsula | $5,000.00 |
| ICYS Ipswich Community Youth Service | QLD – Ipswich | $5,350.00 |
| Mad Cow Cafe – Bendigo Baptist Care | VIC – Bendigo | $5,000.00 |
| Mama lana’s | NSW – Penrith | $5,350.00 |
| Murray Bridge Community Centre | SA – Murray Bridge | $5,350.00 |
| Nyoongar Outreach Services (NOS) Perth | WA – Perth | $5,350.00 |
| Port Phillip Zero – Community Group | VIC – Inner South | $5,000.00 |
| Reach Homeless Services | NSW – Hamilton | $5,350.00 |
| Street Side Medics | NSW – Sydney | $5,350.00 |
| Total of Grants | $77,450.00 |
Pictured: Reach Homeless Services Volunteers
“This grant will enable Nyoongar Outreach staff to assist some of most at risk Aboriginal community members who are sleeping rough, at risk in public spaces to receive a warm blanket or sleeping bag to get them through the night. Our clients are dealing with isolation, dislocation from family and country, and a shortage of housing options. – Nyoongar Outreach Services, WA (On Whadjuk Noongar Country)
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“We deliver the Immediate Housing Response (IHR) program for vulnerable singles, couples and families experiencing primary homelessness. This grant will help us establish a pantry for young people in temporary motel accommodation to strengthen their sense of community as they work to obtain long term housing outcomes – Ipswich Community Youth Services in QLD (on Tulmar Country)
“We have a safe space where the most vulnerable in our community can drop in, get support and have a chat. This grant will be used to purchase additional food items for toasties, and ready meals such as cups of noodles, coffee supplies and bottles of water. It will also allow us to purchase several tents and stock up on basic essential items such as sunscreen, bug spray, socks and first aid supplies ” – Murray Bridge Community Centre, SA (on Ngarrindjeri Country)
“We provide a free BBQ with food and hygiene products along with warm clothing, blankets and hot coffee. Our clients are dealing with isolation issues and the morning program gives them an opportunity to connect with others and develop friendships. – Reach Homeless Services, NSW (on Awabakal and Worimi Country)
“A sincere thank you for the $5000 grant, which helped Launch Housing put together the ID Connect day in Frankston. This event, run during Homelessness Week, enabled over 60 clients in the Frankston region access essential services such as Births Deaths and Marriages, Services Australia, housing support, vaccination services, material aid support and more, all in a single event” – Frankston Zero Project (Launch Housing), VIC (Naarm)
ID Connect Day for Frankston ZERO (source)
Our donors and supporters have collectively impacted over 1,460 lives and strengthened 15 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.
