Pictured: The Shelter Collective, new grant recipients renovating 20 cottages (unused for 15 years) into homes for people over 55 experiencing homelessness in Central QLD
Donors respond to hunger and homelessness with $180,000
The cost of living and rental crisis are placing people in extreme financial stress, as they struggle to feed their families, keep a roof over their head, or access safe accommodation after losing their home. It is near impossible for vulnerable people to find a rental property in Australia with vacancy rates below 1%, forcing many to seek unsafe shelter in cars, tents, caravan parks, on couches with friends, or in motels. Our community services are experiencing high demand, and are seeing many people in work seeking help for the first time. This increasing need for support from people in all walks of life is stretching our community services to breaking point.
“…our donations are lower than usual, and we are seeing an increase in the need for food and emergency relief and other supports. Each day, we see new faces at our door. Each day, more people are visiting our service hungry, cold and in need of support.” St Mary’s House of Welcome, in Naarm (VIC)
In response, our Winter Appeal raised funds and awareness to make a tangible difference on the ground for organisations and people. The generosity of our wonderful donors has resulted in $180,000 of support! Our aim is to provide support through Housing and tenancy support to help people maintain or access safe accommodation, to provide Material aid / household essentials to support people exiting homelessness and moving into a new home and also provide Food Relief to support people going hungry and facing financial hardship.
180,000
135
14,779
Focusing support where it’s needed most
With these grants we focused our support into regional and metro areas identified as having high levels of homelessness and need, in the recent ABS Census, for example Devonport in Tasmania, Northern Rivers in NSW and Toowoomba in QLD. Devonport has the highest rate of people experiencing homelessness across TAS (at 83 per 10,000) while rates of people sleeping rough in Coffs Harbour are in the top 10 affected LGA’s in NSW.
We have also focused on filling the gaps and supporting smaller community organisations that are responding to their local needs but struggling to keep up with soaring demand, on their limited budget and staffing capacity. 74% of recipient organisations this round had an annual turnover of less than $5 million, with nearly half (47%) operating on less than $1 million. 42% were volunteer run or had less than 10 staff. We have also targeted community led responses to homelessness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities, funding 6 Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations.
Pictured: Gran’s Van , Via Facebook
Feeding those sleeping rough or in financial stress
“Some of our clients are living in cars or tents. Others have accommodation, but it is short term or sub-standard. And some just struggle to afford food and rent each week. The need for relief has increased by over 40% in the last 3 years and our government funding in that time has barely increased at all.”
Gran’s Van on Palawa Country (TAS)
Securing new homes for families fleeing violence
“Our clients face huge barriers in setting up their new homes after having left violence. This funding means we can help vulnerable women & children to either retain their tenancy or actually get set up in a new home.”
Warrina domestic & family violence specialist services on Gumbaynggirr Country (NSW)
Pictured: Warrina domestic & family violence specialist services via Website
Pictured: Base Services Toowoomba, via Facebook
Community meals keep people fed and create employment
“We are seeing an increase in clients who are reducing their own food intake to keep their children fed. This grant will not only be used to provide nutritious meals to people experiencing homelessness or living below the poverty line, but also be used to provide hospitality training to people experiencing homelessness or long-term unemployment.”
Base Services on Barunggam Country (QLD)
Household items help create homes for Veterans
“Veteran’s are drastically overrepresented in Australia’s Homelessness population, facing complex challenges. This grant would furnish a unit for a veteran and his sister and two children who are currently homeless and living in our crisis accommodation. The sister is his carer as the veteran is disabled and suffers from autism.”
Veteran Housing Australia on Wurundjeri Country (VIC)
Veteran Housing Australia via Youtube
23 grants helping people into safe homes and sustainable tenancies
| Organisation | State | Region | Grant $ |
| Adelaide Zero | SA | Adelaide | $5,000.00 |
| Community House Central Aust | NT | Alice Springs | $5,000.00 |
| Dignity | NSW | Sydney – Parramatta | $5,000.00 |
| Frankston Zero | VIC | Mornington Peninsula | $5,000.00 |
| Geelong Zero | VIC | Geelong | $5,000.00 |
| House of Welcome | NSW | Sydney West | $5,000.00 |
| Indigo Junction | WA | Perth -Swan | $5,000.00 |
| Innari | NSW | Sydney – Inner West | $5,000.00 |
| Larrakia Nation | NT | Darwin | $5,000.00 |
| Launceston Women’s Shelter | TAS | Launceston | $5,000.00 |
| Mallee Family Care | VIC | Mildura/Swan Hill | $5,000.00 |
| North West Youth Accommodation Service | QLD | Brisbane | $5,000.00 |
| Northern Rivers Community Gateway | NSW | Northern Rivers | $5,000.00 |
| Port Phillip Zero | VIC | Melbourne / Inner city | $5,000.00 |
| Sisters Inside | QLD | Townsville | $5,000.00 |
| South East Women & Children’s Services | NSW | Bega Valley | $5,000.00 |
| Tharawal Housing Aboriginal Corporation | NSW | Outer South West | $5,000.00 |
| The Shelter Collective | QLD | Rockhampton | $5,000.00 |
| Veterans Housing | VIC | Melbourne | $5,000.00 |
| Warrina | NSW | Coffs Harbour | $5,000.00 |
| WAYSS youth | VIC | Melbourne SE | $5,000.00 |
| You Matter | VIC | Melbourne | $5,000.00 |
| YPA – Mithangkaya Nguli Indigenous Corporation | QLD | Mount Isa | $5,000.00 |
| Total | $115,000.00 |
13 grants feeding those going hungry and in financial stress
| Organisation | State | Region | Grant $ |
| Base Services – Toowoomba Soup Kitchen | QLD | Toowoomba | $5,000.00 |
| Bridge Darebin – Moon Rabbit Cafe | VIC | Melbourne North | $5,000.00 |
| CAPPS | NT | Alice Springs | $5,000.00 |
| Community Canteen | QLD | Brisbane Inner City | $5,000.00 |
| Fareshare | Vic | Melbourne | $5,000.00 |
| Food Bank NT | NT | Darwin | $5,000.00 |
| FoodLink Shepparton | VIC | Shepparton | $5,000.00 |
| Gateway Family Services | NSW | Sydney – Penrith | $5,000.00 |
| Grans Van | TAS | Devonport | $5,000.00 |
| Griffith Community Centre | NSW | Griffith | $5,000.00 |
| Shoalhaven Homeless Hub | NSW | Shoalhaven | $5,000.00 |
| St Mary’s House of Welcome | VIC | Melbourne Inner City | $5,000.00 |
| The Pantry | WA | Perth | $5,000.00 |
| Total | $65,000.00 |
