Pictured (left to right, top to bottom): Padre Coffee Team, Plates4Mates, Short Back and Sidewalks, and Food on The Table
CafeSmart has been creating community-led action against homelessness for 15 years, using the collective power of the coffee community to raise awareness and funds for grassroots responses. We celebrated this milestone in August this year, with a record breaking 823 Cafe’s taking part, backed by over 50 Roasters and our incredible sponsors.
The outcome? An incredible $201,000 raised from coffee-fuelled community generosity, helping fund 113 localised responses to support those facing homelessness. And with more cafes than ever taking part and encouraging their customers to chip in too, countless conversations have been sparked to raise awareness about homelessness.
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The magic of CafeSmart is the localised impact that is created by communities, for their community. Cafes, roasters, and coffee lovers have brought this campaign to life with their customers, networks and friends. From soy lattes on the Mornington Peninsula, to long blacks in Darwin, small scale roasters on the NSW coast to The Coffee Club stores nationally, everyone who got involved in CafeSmart 2025 can be proud to be backing local-led responses that are making an impact for those facing homelessness.
“As a small charity that leverages donations and volunteer support to achieve big things for our regional community – this grant is a game changer, greatly increasing our capacity to support those in most need at the hardest time of the year. Thank you! Our central community hub is the only physical door in our regional community that is open to all, no criteria, just kind and compassionate information, advice and referral”
– Forster Neighbourhood Centre
At a time when homelessness, hunger and hardship are affecting more people than ever before, CafeSmart remains a vital community-led response to growing demand for support. In a year which saw 1 in 3 households experience hunger and food insecurity, a 13% rise in the number of people already sleeping rough when they sought help, and 208 people every day turned away due to capacity issues, CafeSmart exists to create an easy, everyday opportunity for communities to connect and take collective action against homelessness.
Cafes and coffee lovers take action on homelessness, in their neighbourhoods
Pictured: Single O Surry Hills team on CafeSmart day 2025
Single O Surry Hills in Sydney helping provide hot meals, conversation, and connection
“We exist so that our homeless community, rough sleepers and anyone else in need can come for a warm meal, grocery items, clothes and a conversation without judgement. But this year, the donation levels have been well down on 2024 so we are likely to end up 100 hampers less than usual. This support is really helping us give a hamper to everyone who needs one so we can all celebrate the festive season with dignity and joy”
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-Plates4Mates in Surry Hills on Gadigal Country
Told You So in Brisbane is helping local charities keep up with demand for emergency food
“Breakfast Club provides free community meals and emergency food to people in need in our area. With the increased cost of food and the increasing demand for support we will be using any funds granted to purchase food. Over the last 3 months the demand for our services has nearly doubled and we are struggling to keep up. Any help is much appreciated.”
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-The Breakfast Club in Redcliffe on Turrbal Country
Pictured: The Breakfast Club in Brisbane
Pictured: Short of a Sheet in Hobart
Yellow Bernard in Hobart funds local outreach and new-home set ups
“We currently have a small van that we use for distributing essential items such as clothing, toiletries and non-perishable foods, as well as for deliveries of homewares and whitegoods to those who are transitioning from homelessness into housing. With the StreetSmart grant, we are able to fund nearly a year of running expenses for the van, which until now has been 100% sourced from community donations.”
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– Short of a Sheet in Hobart on Nipaluna Country
La Casa Nostra Deli on the Mornington Peninsula in VIC helping those sleeping rough with material aid
“We run the only dedicated Assertive Outreach for Homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula, and are currently overrun with the demand from people rough sleeping. We receive no state funding but our workers are providing a wide range of food and material aid much of the tents, sleeping bags and referral support…so this support is hugely helpful”
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-Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre in Rosebud on Bunurong Country
Pictured: Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre
Pictured: Servants Housing
Sonny Ray in Hawthorn Melbourne helps people maintain stable housing, wellbeing and connection.
“We provide safe, stable accommodation for people who have experienced homelessness, mental ill-health, and social isolation. This funding will be a great help for us to expand the range of engagement activities, and provide essential resources such as transport support, materials for group programs, and training for staff and volunteers“
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– Servants Community Housing in Hawthorn on Wurundjeri Country
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Click on the states to see a full list of CafeSmart 2025 recipient organisations
A huge shoutout to our amazing sponsors: Vitasoy and La Marzocco, our Principal Sponsors, and CoffeeTools, our Supporting Sponsors, for their financial backing and commitment to the campaign. Thanks also to our media partners, BeanScene Magazine and Broadsheet, for helping us spread the word across the coffee and hospitality industry.
And finally, a massive thank you to the amazing roasters and cafes that jumped on board to make it all possible, and to every single person who grabbed a coffee, donated, and celebrated CafeSmart 2025! Your enthusiasm and dedication towards fighting homelessness is what makes this campaign so special!
