StreetSmart Australia

📣 Grants News! $106,000 across 20 organisations has been distributed to help break barriers towards safe stable housing. This means we can help support 500 people who face specific barriers finding, accessing, and maintaining a safe place to call home. This incredible outcome is only possible because of the combined generosity of those who took part in our Collective Giving project during November and December. A big thank you to all who joined us! Our focus in this round has been on supporting young people, those with pets, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on the journey towards a safe and secure home. You can read all about the impact in our article below, but here's one bit of feedback from community partner St Laurence House: "This is such wonderful news! Thank you on behalf of the SLH team. This funding will go to terrific use, boosting our program that helps young people exit homelessness into safe stable housing. Thank you for this opportunity" Grants were made to target smaller, grassroots organisations in areas of high need, and we're so pleased to be able to support the work of Simon Quilty at Wilya Janta, Shelter Housing Action Cairns (SHAC), Inspire Youth and Family Services Darumbal Community Youth Service , Claude Robinson at The Rainbow Lodge, and St John's Youth Services, among others. #homelessness #youth #pets #sleepingrough #housingisahumanright #community #fundraising #socialimpact #grants

In the midst of unrelenting pressure and demand, we’re targeting forgotten and overlooked areas of support, to help strengthen the homelessness sector. In order to care for and support vulnerable people, we need frontline staff and organisations that are equipped to navigate a sector in crisis. Funds raised in February will help staff access training and professional development opportunities, wellbeing support, elevate the voices of those with lived experience to help develop better programs, and fund advocacy programs that lead to wider public understanding of homelessness and support of the sector.      Individuals, organisations, businesses, philanthropists, everyone... This is a real threat to the support that our country can provide for those experiencing homelessness. Head to https://lnkd.in/gZyC3xu to find out more and show your support!

Right now, we're focused on boosting responses that help strengthen frontline staff and organisations to build capacity and drive systemic change. These areas are critically important parts of our work in ending homelessness and strengthening communities, but are currently deprioritised and overlooked as the sector grapples in a 'climate of crisis.'

Where do Awareness and Advocacy campaigns fit in when taking on homelessness? Why are they an important part of the response? Advocacy or education campaigns can lead to greater public, corporate, and political awareness of the issues faced by people experiencing homelessness and those who support them. Simply put, they help garner wider support, shift societal norms, and create systemic change. For example, last year, we supported Lucy's Project to run a national education and awareness conference, bringing together passionate researchers and practitioners from around Australia and the world... 🤝With 115 attendees and 32 speakers, the conference enabled resources and tools to be shared that helped upskill frontline workers on ways to support those with animals who are escaping violence and/or facing homelessness. 💡11 Politicians and 2 commissioners also participated in the conference, helping connect policy and decision makers with Lived Experience and ‘on the ground’ realities. #advocacy #homelessness #community #grassroots

Drumroll please…we are thrilled to welcome Adam Mooney as our new CEO! Adam joins us with a deep expertise in the not-for-profit sector as a leader in community development and social inclusion. He shares:    “I firmly believe that StreetSmart's unique model in community connectedness and localised impact holds tremendous potential to continue this work. I look forward to connecting with our supporters and partnering with the organisations we fund as we mobilise communities in support of grassroots responses to homelessness.” Over the coming months, with Adam's leadership, we are looking to engage with all of our stakeholders to find opportunities to expand our impact and continue supporting vulnerable communities in bold and meaningful ways. We couldn't be more excited for what's ahead! In other big news, we have new digs! We’ve delighted to be invited to join the Dream Factory at Gate 8 alongside other not-for-profits STREAT, Murrup, The Reach Foundation, Newsboys Foundation, and the Dylan Alcott Foundation. Generously supported through the HARRIS FAMILY FOUNDATION, this dynamic and creative space puts us right in the heart of a vibrant community of change-makers and charities, opening new doors to collaborate and innovate. #homelessness #community #endinghomelessness

💡What is Lived Experience and why is it important? Lived Experience in the homelessness sector usually refers to people who have been homeless, are currently experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. 🗨️ This firsthand knowledge provides invaluable insights into the realities, complexities, and root causes of homelessness. 🎯 When Lived Experience is involved in meaningful and genuine ways within organisations, this knowledge and expertise can help shape effective programs, policies and solutions to homelessness. Pictured here is The Peer Education Support Program (PESP), a lived experience program we have been able to fund and support in the past. It's a volunteer program run by Council To Homeless Persons, which links people who have been without a home to organisations and government bodies to help improve Victoria’s homelessness service system and policies. Funding Lived Experience programs is one way we are helping strengthen the sector through this month - check out our website to learn more. #homelessness #livedexperience #endinghomelessness #community

It’s no secret that the homelessness sector is stretched thin. These stats paint a pretty grim picture of the lived reality of our frontline workers, staff, volunteers. In the midst of unrelenting pressure and demand, investment in strategies that strengthen organisations and build resiliency often get overlooked. Yet, in order to care for and support vulnerable people, we need frontline staff and organisations that are equipped to navigate a sector in crisis. To respond, our current Collective Giving project is raising funds and awareness to: 💚 Help staff access training and professional development opportunities, wellbeing support 🗣️ Elevate the voices of those with lived experience to help develop better programs, and 📣 Fund advocacy programs that lead to wider public understanding of homelessness and support of the sector. Learn more and join us: https://lnkd.in/f4jpFT7 #homelessness #frontline #endinghomelessness #staff #community #fundraising #LivedExperience #awareness

Homelessness Services Are Overwhelmed – Here’s How We Can Help The homelessness sector is at a breaking point. Frontline workers are grappling with soaring demand and limited resources, leaving many unable to provide the help people desperately need. Recent data from Homelessness Australia paints a stark picture: 39% of services had to turn away individuals seeking help. 83% couldn’t answer calls for support. 74% couldn’t reply to emails. A workforce deficit compounds the problem. Many staff juggle 20 to 25 clients each—far beyond the recommended 12 to 15—while navigating increasingly complex cases. Workers report they’re "juggling crises" without the resources needed to create long-term solutions. The emotional toll is immense. Staff face burnout, vicarious trauma, and mounting uncertainty. With limited capacity for professional development or wellbeing initiatives, the sustainability of this vital workforce is under threat. That’s why this month we’re taking action. We’re raising funds and offering grants focused on three key areas: 👉 Staff support and wellbeing – To reduce burnout and workforce turnover. 👉 Lived experience leadership – Elevating the voices of people with lived experience to shape policy and support frontline staff. 👉 Advocacy and awareness – Driving campaigns to ensure homelessness and housing insecurity get the attention they urgently need. Together, we can help alleviate the strain on services and ensure every person in need has a chance for support. 💡 If you'd like to partner with us or learn more, let’s connect. #Homelessness #SocialImpact #Advocacy #CommunitySupport https://lnkd.in/gZyC3xu

🎉 We're excited to share that we have received an Australian Business Awards, (Charity Award) for Outstanding Achievement in recognition of our SleepSafe program. In collaboration with Sheridan - Hanes Brands Australasia, SleepSafe distributes sleep kits to frontline community organisations to support those facing and experiencing homelessness. The program has enabled thousands of Australians in need to receive comfort, dignity, and practical support in their time of crisis. This recognition highlights the immense effort and dedication of everyone involved, from the passionate team at Sheridan to the incredible generosity of our supporters. Pictured is community partner Launchpad Youth Community with the Sheridan team in Sydney and Birribee Housing unpacking a delivery of sleep kits. Read about the award here - https://lnkd.in/gyh5wa_2

Launched yesterday, the 2024 Homelessness Monitor pulls together an extraordinary amount of data to help us to better understand homelessness in Australia, from emerging trends to key drivers and impacts. A big thanks to Hal Pawson, Andrew Clarke, and Kate Colvin Homelessness Australia for talking through the report yesterday. Some of the stands outs... - People are stuck in homelessness for longer, with a 44% increase in the median support time in the past 5 years - Changing profiles of those experiencing homelessness, including older people (65 y/o up 30%) - Reduced capacity to provide preventative support means people experience harsher conditions, demonstrated by a 28% increase in those sleeping rough when first seeking support - Increasingly, local councils are playing an active role in homelessness response referral, coordination, and facilitation Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gXMGvSZf