Throughout December, diners made a difference with their end of year meals and festive feasts. Collectively, restaurants and diners have generated $148,900 for grassroots homelessness services. At a time when demand for housing is so high, rates of rough sleeping continue to climb, and frontline workers are overstretched, this funding will bring immediate relief.
Across Australia during Homelessness Week, 717 cafes, 44 roasters, and countless communities were coming together over their favourite brew to take action against homelessness. This incredible collective effort in August has helped us distribute a total of $147,585 across 133 frontline organisations that are supporting our most vulnerable. Such a vital, local impact across so many regions in Australia is a testament to the enthusiasm and support of the roasters, cafes, sponsors, and of course, coffee lovers involved.
In December, restaurants and diners alike rallied around DineSmart to support disadvantaged people into life-changing programs. We know that already disadvantaged groups, including at-risk youth, migrants and refugees, and older women have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID pandemic and continue to experience barriers to employment. To respond to the ongoing challenges our recent DineSmart campaign has raised funds to target support to smaller, local organisations that provide vital job training, readiness and pathways programs to vulnerable groups in our communities.
Thanks to our community of public, corporate, and philanthropic supporters, our End of Year appeal has generated $67,000 for grassroots homelessness services.Through 13 grants, this funding is ensuring that vulnerable people are supported with all parts of a safe and secure home, from a roof over their heads, to food for their children, or financial help to keep paying bills. Communities across Australia are grappling with a cost of living crisis as rents, food, and basic essentials become increasingly difficult to afford, straining community support services as more people seek help.
TipJar has kicked off 2023 with several grants totalling $14,600 that are helping to create and sustain hospitality job training opportunities for vulnerable and at-risk people. Public donors and corporate contributions have made these grants possible. These programs are helping change the story for people who face barriers to employment and financial security.
For a nation of pet lovers, Australia is not actually very pet friendly if you are trying to flee domestic violence or trying to secure a crisis or permanent accommodation. Unfortunately it is common for those who are experiencing homelessness or leaving a domestic violence situation are unable to access safe and secure accommodation with their pets. This means they often are forced to stay in unsafe situations or sleep on the streets to remain with their companion. That’s why during March 2023 we are raising funds for outreach vet services (like food, vaccinations, flea treatment) and emergency accommodation for pets so their owners can stay somewhere safe.
The impact of poverty on children is often profound and enduring, yet one in six Australian children currently live in poverty. It is forecast that the rate of child poverty will exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2023, having been reduced through the pandemic by the COVID Supplement payments. As we continue to be impacted by the ongoing pandemic and cost of living pressures, we are seeing rising rates of homelessness and family violence. We need early, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate and culturally safe, sustained support for children, but also for families experiencing hardship.
LGBTIQA+ community members are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness than the rest of the population. Violence, family rejection, discrimination, and trauma in these communities drive the over-representation of LGBTIQA+ people among those who are homeless. We need to invest in more specialised services and workers who can support housing pathways for LGBTIQ+ people to ensure they are safe and secure.
Over the last 15 years Australia has fallen from 15th out of 153 countries in the 2006 World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap rankings to 50th in 2021. This decline reflects poor Government policy development to combat well known social disadvantages impacting women of all ages. For example, for over a decade it has been widely known that older women are the fastest-growing group of homeless people and the greatest cause of homelessness in Australia is domestic and family violence. The Covid pandemic has deepened these issues and currently there are too many women living in poverty, housing insecurity and homelessness. That’s why we recently funded 10 smaller organisations supporting vulnerable women.
To respond to the immediate and ongoing challenges that many vulnerable people are experiencing due to flooding through VIC and NSW, StreetSmart has raised funds to support community organisations who are responding to the needs of their flood affected communities. Through the generous support of our donors, $17,400 been raised and distributed to 4 organisations to provide emergency relief, material aid, and food relief to people impacted by floods, particularly those who were previously vulnerable and experiencing disadvantage.
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We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the unceded lands on which our organisation is located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to Elders, past and present. StreetSmart is committed to honouring Indigenous peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.
StreetSmart is an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming workplace that values diversity of expression. We know that members of the LGBTQIA+ community are particularly vulnerable to experiencing homelessness and we partner with organisations that work to support people in need, without discrimination or prejudice.
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