Together, we’re backing housing responses to homelessness
We are all about getting things done together, and our latest grant round is this collective philosophy in action. Our incredible giving community of individual donors, corporate partners, and philanthropic trusts have enabled us to fund 17 housing responses to homelessness at the grassroots, frontline level across Australia.
Although there is no silver bullet when it comes to ending homelessness, we know that without housing, it is an impossible task. So throughout July and August we focused on raising funds and awareness for housing specific responses. We sought the support of our network with the aim of providing household essentials like furniture to set people up for tenancy success, funding operational costs for smaller housing programs, contributing to the creation and upkeep of accommodation/housing units and supporting housing/tenancy outreach to prevent people being evicted into homelessness.
A big thank you to every single person who took part in this project. Collectively we have been able to distributed $86,080 in funding across 17 community partners.
86,080
386
17
What this funding means and what it’s helping to achieve…
This funding is helping people to stay housed, access safe accommodation in crisis, and also move towards long term stability after homelessness. From backing Meanwhile use projects that turn unused building into accommodation, to scaling up regional efforts to end chronic homelessness through collaboration and long-term housing, to ensuring families are set up for tenancy success with household essentials…these grants are helping end and prevent homelessness. We’ve focused on providing care to those who face systemic barriers to housing, with 25% of those supported aged 55 years, 35% are First Nations, and 30% of grants are supporting those sleeping rough.
At the grassroots level, these grants are giving providing a vital boost to smaller organisations that are struggling to keep up with the rising demand for their service. 53% of funded organisations have a annual turnover less than $2 million and nearly 2 in 5 have reported seeing a 20-30% increase in demand.
13 grants in this round were made to support families and individuals living in their cars, sleeping in tents, or otherwise without shelter
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Turning empty buildings into housing
“This grant is supporting the rollout of our key initiatives, including our Pop-Up Housing Program — which transforms vacant buildings into temporary accommodation for people in need — and the development of practical tools to support delivery by industry partners and volunteer teams across the country.”
– Housing All Australians on Wurundjeri Country in VIC (pictured)
Setting up a Sanctuary after crisis
“The Sanctuary Program transforms an empty house into a warm and welcoming home, giving survivors and their children the opportunity to begin a new life with dignity and free from abuse. Purchased items range from basic necessities such as pillows, sheets, and kitchenware, through to essential whitegoods like refrigerators and washing machines. By covering the cost of these vital items, the grant ensures every family entering a Sanctuary can begin their new chapter in a fully furnished home, free from the stress of furniture poverty“
– Friends with Dignity on Turrbal Country in QLD (pictured)
24% of organisations supported in this round are domestic and family violence services.
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35% of those impacted through this grant round are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders. We’ve funded 3 Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations or Aboriginal-led projects in this round.
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Bridging the gap to ensure tenancy success
“Our clients are facing systemic issues that make it hard to achieve long term stability and wellbeing. This grant is helping purchase basic household essentials to help clients establish their new tenancy, provide food vouchers to alleviate the impact of rising living costs on household sustainability, and assist with urgent small bill payments such as electricity reconnections or power cards. This funding is a critical support, enabling us to bridge the gap between securing a tenancy and maintaining it, ensuring that clients have the resources and stability needed to successfully sustain their housing
– CAAPS Aboriginal Corporation on Larrakia Country (NT)
Opening doors to stability for young people
“This grant is especially needed now as young people in our community are increasingly being priced out of the housing market, facing a cost-of-living crisis, and experiencing rising rates of mental health concerns. Operational funding will ensure we can continue to provide safe housing, tenancy support, and case management for vulnerable young people, giving them stability and the best chance of long-term tenancy success.”
– Chameleon Youth Housing on Turrbal Country in NSW
24% of people supported in this round are young people aged 12-24 years. That’s 93 young people helped to access, maintain or stay housed.
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41% of projects funded are in regional areas, outside of capital cities.
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Boosting capacity in regional areas
“In the central Highlands we have families with children sleeping rough, and people as young as 14 sleeping rough or in a tent. There are only three funded outreach workers for the entire region that spans hundreds of kilometers. This funding will mean our new staff can access the ‘By Name List’ which enables us to identify and work alongside more people who are experiencing chronic and severe homelessness. It’ll mean we can give emergency relief to those we support (food, medication, documentation costs) and then support them into homes with household essentials (furniture, white goods etc)”
– Ballarat Zero on Wadawurrung Country in VIC
Seeking out and supporting 17 smaller grassroots organisations
”Being 100% volunteer run and receiving no government funding, we rely on the generosity of the community for our financial support.
RufUs Charity in SA on Kaurna Country
We have our own om costs like rent, internet, phones, truck, petro, rego, and insurance, so this support helps us to focus on other aspects of our service.
| Organisation | State – Region | Grant $ |
| Ballarat Zero | VIC – Regional | $5,000.00 |
| Bundjalung Tribal Society | NSW – Regional | $5,120.00 |
| CAAPS Aboriginal Corporation | NT – Metro | $5,120.00 |
| Chameleon Youth Housing | QLD – Metro | $5,120.00 |
| Family Access Network | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Friends With Dignity | QLD | $5,120.00 |
| Housing All Australians | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| Mornington Community Support | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| My Foundations Youth Housing | NSW – Metro | $5,120.00 |
| Orana House | WA – Metro | $5,120.00 |
| Prison Network | VIC – Metro | $5,120.00 |
| Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief Network | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| RufUs | SA – Metro | $5,120.00 |
| Rumbalara | VIC – Regional | $5,000.00 |
| South Port Community Housing | VIC – Metro | $5,000.00 |
| The Bridge Youth Service | VIC – Regional | $5,000.00 |
| Young Crisis Accommodation Centre Inc | NSW – Regional | $5,120.00 |
| Total | $86,080.00 |
Our donors and supporters have collectively impacted over 386 people facing homelessness and strengthened 17 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.
