StreetSmart Grant Recipient | Common Ground
Grant Making Guidelines
Our Philosophy
StreetSmart Australia is a Public Benevolent Institution that exists to improve the lives of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We work to end homelessness – we believe everyone should have a safe and secure place to call home. We aim to be a supportive ally for those on the front-line of service delivery to the most vulnerable in our community. We aim to do this by:
- striving to run simple grant application and acquittal processes;
- working collaboratively with potential grant recipients to identify their priority areas and outline funding gaps;
- mentoring potential grant recipients through the application process;
- targeting areas of highest need, including funding areas that other funders may avoid (such as un-tied brokerage);
- listening to our grant recipients and taking an active role in funding innovation and new ideas.
We believe that front-line staff are the experts, and we are here to support your work. We also believe that, where possible, people with lived experience of homelessness and disadvantage should contribute to program design and decision making.
Eligibility
Below are eligibility criteria for receiving support through our Grant Making.
To view and read the guidelines and policy document for our SleepSafe program click through here.
Organisational size
We support smaller, grassroots organisations with an annual turnover of less than AUD $5 million.
Organisations with an annual turnover above this threshold may be eligible after discussing grant opportunities with us directly.
Prohibited use of funds
Funds must not be used for:
- non-charitable purposes or activities;
- retrospective funding – i.e., support for programs that have already concluded. However, we do fund ongoing programs that have already commenced;
- programs that engage in any worship, prayer, proselytising, or religious instruction;
- programs that are politically partisan in nature – e.g., activities promoting or opposing a political party or candidate for political office, or programs associated with a party’s or candidate’s campaigns or publications;
- programs engaging in or promoting unlawful activities or activities contrary to public policy (as defined under Australian charities law); and
- programs or events where alcohol or opportunities to gamble are available.
Impact Areas
Recipients must be focused on working with people experiencing homelessness or intersectional hardship and vulnerabilities that put them at risk of homelessness. Prevention is an important part of our response.
We define homelessness broadly as inadequate access to safe and secure housing, including but not limited to sleeping rough, insecure housing, temporary accomodation and couch-surfing, and programs working to prevent homelessness occurring in areas of poverty and disadvantage. We also fund advocacy, education and information campaigns that do not directly provide services.
Registration/charitable status
- Recipients do not need to hold DGR status.
- Recipients will preferably be an Australian charity registered with the ACNC. However, we are also able to support smaller/start-up programs that are not registered or are awaiting registration.
Jurisdiction
Recipients must operate and deliver services within Australia.
Permitted use of funds
Each grant round has different impact goals and priorities, which will be clearly communicated to applicants at the time of application. To see a broad overview of 2024 impact areas, click here. For example:
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- A Youth Housing grant round may fund programs that help young people access, maintain or set up safe, secure accommodation and housing; or
- A Justice System grant round may make funds available for a range of pre/post release programs that create better outcomes for those facing homelessness and interacting with the justice system.
Grant recipients must:
- use the entire grant exclusively for the initiative as described and approved in the application;
- use all funds granted within 6 months of receipt, unless otherwise agreed to by us;
- expend the entirety of the grant within Australia, on services or support provided exclusively within Australia; and
- show receipt of the grant in their financial accounts.
Our Process
Application Process
Grants are currently by invitation only. Grant applications are submitted through an online form process once invitations have been sent out.
Potential recipients are encouraged to express their interest through our Contact Form.
StreetSmart Grant Recipient | Outer East Foodshare
Acquittal Process
On transfer of funds into your nominated bank account, grant recipients must send a receipt to StreetSmart Australia, via email, for the amount received, following the instructions that will be provided on notification that the grant application has been successful.
Grant recipients must:
- notify us of any material change that may affect the recipient’s ability to undertake or complete the project within 6 months from receipt of the grant – e.g., key staff taking leave or another surge in COVID-19 cases;
- notify us before making any significant change to the nature or timing of the project that the grant was awarded for;
- submit a grant acquittal report at the end of the funding period for grants over AUD $5,000; and
- where appropriate, acknowledge StreetSmart Australia in all project-related publications, social media and website content, and events.
In accepting a grant from us, grant recipients give StreetSmart Australia permission to publish information and images of the project being funded on our website, social media and reports. Grant recipients must themselves hold permission from any persons featured in images and stories.
July / August '25
Without a House...
Ending homelessness with housing by:
- providing household essentials like furniture
- contributing to the creation and upkeep of accommodation/housing units
- supporting housing/tenancy outreach, registry programs and health checks
Priority cohorts: young people, those sleeping rough, women experiencing domestic violence
September / October '25
A Fair Go
Preventing and Responding to Poverty by:
- providing emergency relief and basic essentials, and healthcare
- employment programs and up-skilling
- providing housing support and rent relief
Priority cohorts: refugees/non-residents, systemic poverty for ATSI, exiting prison, young people, those unemployed
November / December '25
The Tipping Point
Supporting those at risk by:
- emergency relief and essential support like rent support, advice and advocacy
- providing education and employment opportunities
- access to health and wellbeing programs
- mentoring and advice
- legal advice
Priority cohorts: unaccompanied children, trans/LGBTQIA+, care leavers, those leaving prison, migrant and refugee
January / February '26
SmartCare
Investing in frontline staff to bolster sector capacity by:
- creating opportunities for staff wellbeing, recognition, and support
- providing ‘self-care’ training, upskilling, and external supervision
- providing flexible funding in line with Pay What It Takes*
Priority cohorts: frontline staff and volunteers
March / April '26
A Gendered Lens
Responding to Women's Homelessness by:
- funding gender-specific accommodation and housing support
- providing emergency relief and crisis support
- investing in work and employment opportunities
Priority cohorts: women escaping violence, women impacted by the justice system, youth, LGBTQIA+, older women
May / June '26
MISSING
Seeking out those left behind by and overlooked by:
- funding street outreach services
- providing meals, clothing, and essentials
- helping provide crisis and long-term accommodation support
Priority cohorts: People sleeping rough, migrants, non-residents and refugees, children and youth
Contact Us
If you are unsure as to the eligibility of your project/organisation or have any questions about our application process, we strongly encourage you to reach out to us through the Contact Form.
