StreetSmart Australia

Another year in the books! StreetSmart Australia making waves across the country.

We are proud as punch to be sharing our 2024 Annual Impact Report. In this longer version, we share the stories of people supported, profile some of the grants that plugged funding gaps or enabled innovation for smaller grassroots organisations, link our work with the UN SDGs, and deep dive into our 6 impact pillars. It's also a chance to say thank you, as CEO Geoff Hills shares, "thank you to every single person who donated, the board of directors, our small businesses who stood up for their community, raising funds during what has been a very fluid time, and to our corporate and philanthropic partners who continue to underpin and enable our theory of change to become our reality. And finally, a special thank you to the leaders, the case managers, volunteers and the organisations whose work inspires us every day." #homelessness #impact #endinghomelessness #socialimpact #community

🎥 What is DineSmart? 🎥 DineSmart is a simple yet impactful initiative that runs throughout December, inviting restaurants to add an optional $2 donation to every bill. These small contributions go a long way, helping to fund local grassroots organisations that provide essential services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Check out this awesome video created in collaboration with Humbli to learn more about how DineSmart works and the incredible impact it has on communities across Australia!

As the festive season approaches, restaurants across Australia will soon be buzzing with life- diners enjoying great meals, catching up with loved ones and soaking in the holiday spirit. Yet just outside their doors, many people will be facing a very different reality: spending their nights on the streets without food, shelter or safety. We’re calling on venues to help us change this narrative by signing up to DineSmart! From 1st - 31st December, DineSmart invites restaurants to join in by adding an optional $2 donation to every bill. It’s a simple concept that turns festive goodwill into life changing action- and costs venues nothing to implement. For diners, it’s just $2, but the collective impact is huge. Every donation collected from diners helps fund local, grassroots organisations that provide essential services, from housing to mental health support, helping people transition from the streets into secure housing. If you’re a venue owner, manager, or industry professional that wants to give back this festive season, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Elizabeth Bayrak at liz@streetsmartaustralia.org for more information 🍽️

Today marks the 15th World Homeless Day, and we're reflecting on our role, as one of many organisations within the international community across the globe, working to take action. Our core belief that is at the heart of our work, it that everyone should have a safe and secure place to call home. It is a basic human right. We're also reminded today that ending homelessness is possible. Experiencing homelessness is the result of systemic factors, not individual failings, and we continue to empower a whole of community response. #whd #worldhomelessday #endinghomelessness #homlessness #housingfirst #community

Today, on World Homeless Day, we acknowledge the global challenge of Homelessness and stand with the international community working to ensure everyone has a safe and secure place to call home.    Here in Australia, we are proud to play a role in tackling homelessness in our communities by partnering with national homelessness charity StreetSmart Australia. We share in their belief that ending homelessness will take a whole-of-community response and that we all have a part to play.    Through our collaborative initiative SleepSafe, we help to give comfort, dignity, and practical support to those facing homelessness.

Our incredible giving community have made it possible to distribute $77,450 in funding to provide critical care for those sleeping rough. This is helping provide: 🚿 laundry, showers, and hygiene packs 🍲 hot meals and nutritious food relief 👨⚕️ medical care through outreach ⛺ tents, swags, and sleeping bags to keep warm and dry 💚 safe drop-in spaces for social connection and support referrals 🏡 housing pathways and accommodation support Read the blog to hear from our partners like Reach Newcastle Ltd trading as Reach Homeless Services Mama Lana's Community Foundation, Street Side Medics, ICYS Ipswich Community Youth Service, Casey North Community Information and Support Service Community Accommodation & Support Agency Inc #homelessness #roughsleeping #endinghomelessness #housingfirst #community #grants #fundraising #philanthropy

👏 Over $2.3 million raised 📍 669 community partners across the country 🛌 More than 140,000 sleep kits provided to people facing homelessness 🕜 $5 million saved to the sector in wages and replacement value costs 💙 countless moments of dignity, comfort, and support 📣 thousands of conversations about homelessness, helping to raise awareness and generate localised action These are the SleepSafe 5 year milestones we are celebrating with Sheridan - Hanes Brands Australasia #homelessness #community #partnership

What better way to celebrate five years of SleepSafe than by connecting with the passionate individuals behind our fundraising efforts and the impact we’re making? Throughout September, 7 Sheridan - Hanes Brands Australasia stores have hosted one of their local community partners, hearing from frontline staff about what a difference each Sleep Kit makes to families and individuals facing homelessness. From Darwin to Canberra to Townsville, Sheridan staff are the daily advocates for SleepSafe. By raising awareness and funds with their customers, Sheridan staff activate and empower their community to provide dignity, comfort, and a safer night's rest to those in need. Check out the great team snaps with Jewish House, Treasure Boxes Inc, Little Things for Tiny Tots, Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women's Shelter Roundabout Canberra, Family Emergency Accommodation Townsville, and Hope Street Youth and Family Services #homelessness #sleepsafe #community #fundraising #partnership #collaboration

Almost 40,000 young people aged 15-24 seek assistance from homelessness services each year...but almost half are still homeless afterwards. Australia’s housing system is broken. It locks out children and young people who are homeless and forces them to endure years of hardship before offering the safety and stability they need StreetSmart proudly support the Home Time campaign to fix our housing system for children and young people with nowhere to live. Actions you can take right now... 📣 Send a message to your local politicians that children and young people experiencing homelessness should be a national priority at https://lnkd.in/dMBM47R6 🤝 If you're an organisation, visit www.hometime.org.au to join the campaign #HomeTime #FixHousingForYoungPeople #MeAt16