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Homelessness in the news

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Homelessness is diverse and so is our support

By Homelessness in the news, Projects StreetSmart, StreetSmart Projects

The current drivers of homelessness are affecting people differently. Regardless of the cause or type of homelessness, we are seeing demand rise across the board. As the year draws to a close we are raising awareness about the ways in which housing, rental and cost of living pressures are pushing people into homelessness and housing precarity. With so many types of support needed, we invite our community to learn more and direct their support where they choose. Funds raised will help create safe new homes with all the essentials, feed people and families going hungry and skipping meals, and care for those with furry friends who are sleeping rough or without a stable home.

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Bridge It St Kilda 2

Funding Meanwhile Use Projects to Reduce Homelessness

By Homelessness in the news, Projects StreetSmart, Recently Funded, StreetSmart News, Youth

As Australia grapples with the deepening and costly homelessness crisis, leaders are advocating for an uptake of more creative and innovative approaches like ‘meanwhile use’ and ‘change of use’ projects. StreetSmart have funded ‘meanwhile use’ projects before and have recently collaborated with grant recipient Bridge It, in Melbourne, to fund another much-needed innovation to reduce youth homelessness. 

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Our homelessness crisis is also a healthcare crisis

By Homelessness in the news, Projects StreetSmart, Rough Sleeping, StreetSmart Projects

We are in the thick of winter. For thousands of vulnerable people sleeping rough, the cold, damp nights make life difficult and dangerous. Their situation is perilous, with every hour spent outside impacting their health and wellbeing. Our housing and homelessness crisis is also a healthcare crisis and this month, we are raising funds to ensure people experiencing homelessness can access critical healthcare.

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Relief for those in acute hardship this winter

By Community Grants, Grant Impact, Homelessness in the news, Projects StreetSmart, Recently Funded, Winter Appeal

For too many people food and groceries are an optional extra. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, more and more people are skipping meals to pay their rent, power and other bills. Many are turning to local charities for food relief, for the first time in their lives, and local food banks are struggling to keep up with demand, often running out of basic staple items. That’s why we have just boosted funding to 10 food relief programs, distributing a total of $80,000 so that people in acute hardship can be supported. We are continuing this support and are calling on you, our network, to join us and give what you can, or share with your networks.

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$80,000 for immediate housing support

By Community Grants, Grant Impact, Homelessness in the news, Projects StreetSmart

The immediate impact of this rental and cost-of-living crisis is that more people are experiencing homelessness and housing stress, seeking assistance from already stretched community services. Our community partners are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of renters who cannot access or afford housing in the open market, or have been evicted. People have little choice but to move into inadequate or unsafe marginal housing such as rooming houses, emergency motels and caravans. That’s why $80,000 worth of grants has been directed to helping people into affordable appropriate housing, or maintain a successful tenancy, and to reach, assist and care for people in poor housing situations.

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Responding to homelessness and vulnerability this winter

By Homelessness in the news, Projects StreetSmart, Winter Appeal

The situation for thousands of people including low-income families, young people receiving Youth Allowance, people living below the poverty line on JobSeeker, and women and children fleeing domestic violence is desperate. The cost of living and rental crisis are placing people in financial stress, as they struggle to feed their families, keep a roof over their head, or access safe accommodation after losing their home. This winter, join us and our supporters in responding to the needs of our most vulnerable community members who are seeking a safe place to call home.

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What the Census data tells us about homelessness and what it doesn’t

By Homelessness in the news, News, Projects StreetSmart

Last month the ABS released the 2021 Census data estimating homelessness in Australia. The national data gives a snapshot, a point-in-time picture, of those who are experiencing homelessness and living in marginal housing. It offers a helpful overview of who is experiencing homelessness and where they are staying – for example 56% are women and children and 2 in 5 people are in overcrowded dwellings. But in many ways, the Census only shows us the tip of the iceberg.

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SleepSafe building local connections

By Homelessness in the news, Projects StreetSmart, SleepSafe

SleepSafe has grown into a national material aid program providing free, high-quality linen and towels to over 550 frontline homelessness services across Australia, distributing over 84,400 kits and counting! But behind these numbers, are teams of people working to support their local community in need, from the Sheridan store staff advocating and raising funds for SleepSafe, to the staff at community organisations handing over kits to vulnerable people they are supporting. Recently, several SleepSafe partners visited their local fundraising Sheridan store to share stories of impact and meet some of the faces behind the program.

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