We are in the midst of a cost-of-living and housing crisis. To respond, StreetSmart donors and supporters raised funds through May, June and July (including our EOFY Winter Appeal), enabling us to make 59 community grants providing $320,000 for Emergency Relief and Food Relief programs, along with Flood Relief grants and our SmartMeals and Making-a-Home programs. Read more…
For over two years the community sector has been on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been caring for our community’s most vulnerable. We have seen them step up, protect lives and help people through the most difficult circumstances. To recognise frontline workers and the personal toll this work has on their health and wellbeing, in 2020 we set up our SmartCare initiative. To date we have made $67,000 of grants to 26 organisations, and we need your support to do more in 2022.
Research, and our own lived experiences, tell us that more frequent social contact is associated with higher life satisfaction and better, overall health and wellbeing outcomes. Conversely, social isolation and loneliness can have significant, negative impacts for many people’s health and wellbeing. In May, as part of our Collective initiative we partnered with a local philanthropic Foundation to support 8 social inclusion programs across Metro Melbourne.
The incredible support from Sheridan Australia and their generous customers since August 2019 has resulted in over $1 million raised for the SleepSafe program. The latest distributions of more than 20,000 high quality sheets and towels to flood affected regions, Domestic Violence refuges, youth accommodation services, and newly arrived Afghan evacuees, is a testament to this collaborative partnership. Sleep kits are making a real difference for vulnerable Australians and the frontline organisations that support them.
The incredible support from Sheridan Australia and their generous customers since August 2019 has resulted in over $1 million raised for the SleepSafe program. The latest distributions of more than 20,000 high quality sheets and towels to flood affected regions, Domestic Violence refuges, youth accommodation services, and newly arrived Afghan evacuees, is a testament to this collaborative partnership. Sleep kits are making a real difference for vulnerable Australians and the frontline organisations that support them.
Back in December, our loyal restaurateurs and their staff led the 19th year of DinerSmart, chatting with customers and advocating for a world without homelessness. Thanks to their fundraising efforts and everyone’s generosity the event raised $84,250 that has just been distributed across 26 community partners!

During Homelessness Week 2021 cafes across all states and territories are becoming homelessness advocates by raising awareness about the devastating crisis facing thousands of Australians without a home, and encouraging customers to dig deep to help provide vital funding. Cafes will also be donating $1 per coffee sold on Friday 6 August. What a huge effort in such a tough year.
The flooding stretches 600 kilometres from Sydney to the Northern Rivers as Fiona Johnson, a hydrologist from the water research centre at UNSW explained, “It’s just the sheer scale of having it from the border all the way down south of Sydney.” In areas that suffered severe bushfires just 12 months ago, the storms have continued and compounded the devastation.
Introducing the evolution of SmartMeals – Meals. Training. Jobs.
All meals will now be made by social enterprises, meaning vital job training, readiness and pathways programs for vulnerable people in a difficult jobs market. Read More