Chipping in a bit, giving out a lot
Back in December, 64 awesome restaurants came together to become incredible vehicles for localised, social change. They engaged their generous customers in the initiative to chip in $2 on top of the bill as a donation. DineSmart 2024 saw long term partners like Chin Chin, Cafe Sydney, Stalactites, Farmer’s Daughters and Lagoon Dining getting involved as well as new venues like Catalina, and Ten Minutes by Tractor throwing their weight behind the campaign.
The power of DineSmart lies in the collective impact of donations from restaurants, hospitality brands, and generous diners. The simplicity of the campaign, empowering everyday diners to chip in a little to create a lot of impact, has seen the model grow over the years and has resulted in helping StreetSmart distribute an incredible $14 million in funds. DineSmart contributions are pooled together to fund solutions that provide care and support for people facing and experiencing homelessness.
This year an incredible $125,500 was raised and has been able to fund 27 vital services, supporting over 2,800 people on the journey towards a safe place to call home.
125,500
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Support on the journey from street to home
Ending someone’s homelessness often takes more than just housing, and those sleeping rough on the street, in cars, or insecure shelter need targeted support at every stage of their journey. This year, DineSmart 2024 donations were pooled to fund local grassroot responses to homelessness, focusing on providing crisis response, as well as long-term housing support and preventative interventions.
This year we have been able to help people get a warm meal at their local neighbourhood house, find suitable clothes and a friendly face at a drop in centre, move into stable accommodation with household essentials, obtain critical ID documents with the help of an outreach Lawyer, and access basic hygiene and medical care.
”We will be spending this grant on practical items; sleeping bags, swags and packs as well as mobile phones so that people can stay connected to services.
Community Information and Support Merri-Bek in Melbourne VIC, (On Wurundjeri Country)
Local need, local response
When in crisis, people turn to their local charities and groups, who may be small but play a vital role in frontline support for those vulnerable people. 60% of DineSmart 2024 donations are supporting very small organisations with an annual T/O of less than $1 million. It’s these drop in centres and outreach teams that are struggling to keep up with an overwhelming demand for help. Just this month the City of Sydney street count reported a 24% increase in those sleeping rough, and recent reports show that 40% of services have had to close the doors to keep up with demand.
Homelessness doesn’t discriminate, and affects people from all walks of life. This year we’ve been able to support children and youth (27% of total people supported), those older aged 55+ (29%), families affected by domestic and family violence (15%) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (18%). We’ve also been able to respond to people experiencing various types of homelessness and vulnerability including those sleeping rough in cars, tents, or makeshift squats (37% of total people supported) as well as those at risk of homelessness in social or public housing (26%).
Behind these statistics and figures sits real tangible impact created by community action – read below the difference DineSmart is creating this year.
Pictured: The Haymarket Foundation
“This will be vital in providing clients moving from crisis accommodation into independent living the dignity of financial control around the purchase of essential housing items, to make their house a home. We often do not have enough to support clients through post crisis, so this DineSmart funding goes a long way in support that move from crisis accommodation into sustainable living” – Haymarket Foundation, Sydney NSW (on Gadigal Country)
“DineSmart will help supply food, hygiene essentials, clothing, and emergency financial assistance, ensuring immediate relief for those in need. At a time of increasing demand, this grant is crucial to sustaining and expanding our efforts to support vulnerable individuals on their path to stability and secure housing.” – St Canice’s Kitchen in Sydney NSW (On Gadigal Country)
Pictured: St Canice’s Kitchen
“This DineSmart grant from StreetSmart will allow us to provide 200 hours of legal assistance to renters at risk of homelessness. With rental stress at an all-time high, this funding will directly prevent evictions, secure urgent repairs, and recover unfairly withheld bonds, helping vulnerable renters avoid displacement.” – Anika Legal in Melbourne VIC (On Wurundjeri Country)
Pictured: The Footpath Library
“This funding from DineSmart is helping us ensure that we can coordinate the necessary volunteers, and distribute books, reading glasses and supplies to where they’re needed the most. It’s more than books – TFL provides a safe and welcoming space for people to feel socially included and connected.” – The Footpath Library in Melbourne VIC (on Wurundjeri Country)
“We know that accommodation, although a major concern, does not address all our beneficiaries’ concerns, this is why we offer a volunteer support worker for ongoing contact. A lot of renters have had to leave unstable environments and are parents to young children so we focus on providing a comfortable space where they can begin to rebuild their personal belongings and address other concerns. Avalon is solely volunteer based and relies on donations and grant access to continue our initiative. The cost of living crisis has seen a higher dependence on our service and simultaneously losing our regular donors. ” Avalon Centre in Melbourne, VIC (On Wurundjeri Country)
Pictured: Avalon Centre
DineSmart 2024 Community Grants
| State | Organisation | Grant $ |
| ACT | ||
| Canberra Community Law – Street Law | $3,500.00 | |
| NSW | ||
| Manning Valley Neighbourhood Service | $2,000.00 | |
| Newtown Neighbourhood Centre | $2,000.00 | |
| Pyrmont Cares | $3,000.00 | |
| St Canice’s Kitchen | $3,000.00 | |
| The Haymarket Foundation | $3,000.00 | |
| Women’s Justice Network | $3,000.00 | |
| VIC | ||
| Anika Legal | $4,000.00 | |
| Avalon Centre | $4,000.00 | |
| CAN Community Support | $4,000.00 | |
| Community Care Centre Ballarat Ltd | $3,500.00 | |
| Community Information Merri-Bek | $4,000.00 | |
| Concern Australia – Steps Outreach | $4,000.00 | |
| FoodFilled | $3,500.00 | |
| inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence | $4,000.00 | |
| Mornington Community Support Centre (The Ranch) | $4,000.00 | |
| RISE | $4,000.00 | |
| Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief | $4,000.00 | |
| Self Help Addiction Resource Centre | $3,500.00 | |
| St Kilda Community Housing | $4,000.00 | |
| St Joseph’s Outreach | $4,000.00 | |
| The Footpath Library | $4,000.00 | |
| The Wellington | $4,000.00 | |
| Wombat Housing and Support Services | $4,000.00 | |
| Youth Projects – The Living Room | $4,000.00 | |
| Youthlaw | $4,000.00 | |
| You Matter | $3,500.00 | |
| TOTAL | $97,500.00 |
Thanks to our incredible DineSmart 2024 venues and sponsors!
The life changing impact of these grants wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our venue partners, our Presenting Partner Lightspeed, our Restaurant Partner Best Restaurants, our Media Partner Broadsheet, and the thousands of diners who rally behind DineSmart year after year.
DineSmart 2024 Venues
DineSmart 2024. DineSmart 2024. DineSmart 2024. DineSmart 2024. DineSmart 2024. DineSmart 2024. DineSmart 2024.
