Sienna’s* story
Sienna is nine, and suffers from a severe form of epilepsy. It means she has seizures – life-threatening ones – at all times of day and night, and needs constant care.
Sienna’s mum and dad love her and have always done everything they can to give her a good life. They never thought it would push them into homelessness. Their rental homes kept getting sold from underneath them. Every move set them back financially. And every move was distressing for Sienna. In the end, skyrocketing rents left the family with no choice but to live in their van.
We put Sienna’s mattress in the van, and we all slept in that. We had no choice"
- Julia, Sienna’s mum
Sienna is one of thousands of Australian children facing this Christmas without a safe home.
Will you please donate to help them?
Homelessness
The shortage of affordable housing and the rising cost of living have pushed more Australians into homelessness.
Right now, more than 17,000 children under the age of 12 are experiencing homelessness1. Among them are newborn babies and children who have disabilities. They are living in cars, sheds and tents. Or moving from one type of temporary accommodation to another.
The impact of homelessness on children is unacceptable.
Mission Australia sees children with severe emotional trauma, disrupted education, and lasting health issues. Homelessness in your childhood increases the likelihood you’ll be homeless as an adult.
If you think that’s wrong, please donate to help.
How you help
You can help families meet the immediate needs of their children. Regular nutritious meals, treatment for an urgent medical problem, a voucher for bedding or school shoes.
You can help provide emergency accommodation that’s suitable for children. Places where they’re not facing constant noise or potential danger from other residents. Places where there is space to play. Places where they are safe, and where their families have the basics needed to take care of them.
You can provide the longer term help needed to give children safe, stable homes. That might mean connecting their families with housing providers, help for parents to get work or Centrelink support, and help with the physical items needed to re-establish a home – and provide the stable environment children need.
No child should be without a safe home at Christmas - or beyond. Please give generously.
Australia’s Homelessness Crisis
1ABS (2021) Census of Population and Housing: Estimating Homelessness
2AIHW (2023) Specialist homelessness services annual report 2022-23
Please donate to give children like Sienna a safe home this Christmas.
Our promise to you
Mission Australia has been helping people move towards independence, and our commitment to this vital work has never been stronger.
Thanks to your support, together we helped 160,520 people in 2024 by combatting homelessness, assisting disadvantaged families and children, addressing mental health issues, fighting substance dependencies, and much more.
In 2024, 89% of our income went straight back into delivering services that assisted vulnerable Australians.
We appreciate every donation we receive and ensure that each dollar goes where it is needed most.
Subscribe for the latest news
*Names and images have been changed to protect the identity of the people we help.