Homelessness Week: Five ways you can help
Homelessness Australia hosts Homelessness Week annually to build community support and government commitment to end homelessness. This year's theme is "Homelessness Action Now".
Homelessness has been on the agenda at CCV since 1976, when Gerry Baldock founded Peplow House, a crisis accommodation service for men at risk of homelessness.
He recognised a growing need for accommodation in his Ballarat community, and knew he had to offer practical support for these men, while also addressing prevention.
“I think, okay he’s presenting as a homeless man, but what’s behind the homelessness? Why is there the homelessness? And quite often, the homelessness actually came about because of lack of personal resources.”
Today, CCV offers a range of services that focus on prevention by supporting people at risk of homelessness, as well as temporary and long-term housing. See our Home Support services.
Who it impacts: read Jon’s story
Hear directly from our Homes First client, Jon.
Jon’s journey to finding a permanent home was challenging, but a rewarding one. When our Homes First Case Coordinator first started working with Jon in February, Jon had already experienced homelessness for 18 years.
Five ways you can help
1. Learn more about the causes and impacts
Think about your everyday language as it may dehumanise people without a home and perpetuate stigma. Support services often use terms such as “people experiencing homelessness” or “people without homes” instead of “homeless people”.
Did you know?
- People who are “sleeping rough” represent only 7% of people without a home
- Indigenous Australians are 13.1 more likely to experience homelessness than non-Indigenous Australians. Read more.
- 1 in 5 transgender young people had experienced homelessness at some point. Read more
- Women over 55 are the fastest growing group of people without a home in Australia
- Family and domestic violence is the leading reason (47%) for people to seek the support of homelessness services in Victoria
- 70% of renters and 25% of mortgage holders are under financial strain — paying more than they can afford
- Waiting lists are over 10 years in every state and territory
Read more about causes of homelessness on Council to Homeless Persons.
Read more stats on Everybody’s Home and Council to Homeless Persons.
“When we engage with clients (in Homes First), the idea is that they get a house straight away but that wasn’t the case because there just were no houses,” – Dianne, Case Coordinator.
2. Raise awareness
Share your knowledge with your family and friends and help remove stigma.
Use social media to spread awareness, participate in campaigns, and engage in conversations about the issue.
Our housing teams in Ballarat and Bendigo showed their dedication and support by attending their local Homelessness Week events on Tuesday. “It was lovely to see so many external support agencies come and show their support, but more amazing, was the number of clients who attended,” Jodi, Homes First Case Coordinator said.
3. Give – practical items, your time or monetary donations
This could include providing food, drinks, sleeping bags, hygiene items, warm clothing, or simply offering a listening ear and a moment of human connection by saying hello.
4. Support your local organisation
5. Advocate for change
Contact your local councilors, MPs, sign a petition and urge them to support policies that address the root causes of homelessness, such as affordable housing initiatives.
- Social and affordable housing
- Specialist support services
- Rental and income support
