From Monday 5 August to Sunday 11 August, we embrace National Homelessness Week and seek to end homelessness with renewed vigour. It’s a time of unity when charities like Mission Australia join hands with NGOs, government, businesses, community groups, the media and individuals to shed light on the solutions needed to end homelessness in Australia.

Under the theme "Homelessness Action Now," we're propelled by a shared sense of urgency to tackle Australia's housing and homelessness challenges head-on, with decisive and impactful action.

Every Australian deserves the anchor of a secure home, a foundation for building a fulfilling life. Throughout our nation, countless positive stories underscore the transformative power of stable housing. Yet, despite these successes, too many individuals and families find themselves without this fundamental security.

Since taking the helm at Mission Australia, my journey has been filled with people’s stories of resilience in the face of the adversity of homelessness. These stories, though often heart-wrenching, ignite our resolve to effect real change.

As one of the world’s wealthiest nations, it's on us to address the glaring inequalities in housing access. It’s alarming that our new youth homelessness report revealed nearly one in ten Youth Survey 2023 participants experienced homelessness in the previous year. These young people, our future, faced challenges beyond their years.

More than 220,000 households are languishing on social housing waitlists in Australia, and the reality is, many will never receive a home because there’s so much demand. And at last count in Australia’s 2021 Census, more than 122,000 people were homeless that night, with thousands more on the cusp.

These statistics help us to understand the scale of the issue but don’t always connect us to the stark realities of being homeless. The ripple effects of homelessness are profound, especially for children and young people extending beyond immediate circumstances into their adulthood and sometimes even to the next generation. This is a reality that demands our collective commitment to change.

Consider Sharlene, a single mother who became homeless within 12 months of leaving a toxic relationship and losing her job, faced setback after setback and eventually became unable to afford her rent — a plight shared by far too many. Sharlene connected with a Mission Australia caseworker who helped find her family secure stable and safe accommodation, and with our team’s support, she’s now pursuing further study in the community sector.

To those who have been homeless, and who we have served through our community housing and support programs, your resilience and achievements are extraordinary. It’s a huge challenge to study, go to work, raise a family, improve your health or address the curve balls that life throws at you without a safe home. Mission Australia’s frontline staff work with people across the country who demonstrate physical, mental, social and emotional resilience every day.

We are dedicated to walking alongside as many people as we can to lend a supporting hand and together finding pathways to safe and secure homes. Our approach has proven effective; most people at risk of homelessness, when seeking our help, are able to remain safely housed. However, amidst the housing and homelessness emergency, the demand for social and affordable housing still outstrips supply. There aren’t enough affordable homes for people who need them.

No one chooses to be homeless — it's often a result of poverty, housing unaffordability and inadequate support systems. This is why we advocate tirelessly for systemic reforms aimed at tackling the root causes of homelessness.

While this year’s Federal Budget allocations to address homelessness are a step in the right direction, more must be done. We call for sustained efforts to deliver the construction of nearly one million new social and affordable homes over the next 20 years. Additionally, a new $500M Homelessness Prevention Transformation Fund is crucial to help people avoid homelessness in the first place. Substantial increases to income support and rental assistance are also needed so people can afford to stay safely housed and afford life’s essentials.

Just recently, we were delighted to open Mission Australia’s first Youth Foyer in Townsville for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This evidence-based model offers young people safe accommodation, support and pathways to a brighter future. We continue to advocate for more Youth Foyers to help tackle youth homelessness and hope to have the opportunity to deliver more.

As we mark Homelessness Week, let's unite in our call for genuine solutions. Together, we can create an Australia where every individual has a safe, secure home and the opportunity to thrive.

But we cannot do this alone. We need your support. Whether through advocacy campaigns like Everybody’s Home, Queensland’s Town of Nowhere or the new Home Time youth homelessness campaign, or by partnering with or donating to charities like Mission Australia, or through fundraising initiatives like our Steps for Safe Homes to support our homelessness services this August, you can make a difference. Together, we can amplify our voice and drive real change towards ending homelessness.

Homelessness is not inevitable; it is solvable. We can end homelessness if there is action, plans and commitment across sectors from all governments, community services and housing organisations, institutional investors, business, academia, media and donations from our community.

Let's use this Homelessness Week as an anchor for action and create a future where homelessness is truly a thing of the past in Australia.

 

Photo of Sharon, CEO of Mission Australia.

 

Sharon Callister
CEO Mission Australia
@sharoncallister

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