Published by Beryl Rahman at 1 August 2024

Homelessness Week_Monday, 5th to Sunday, 11th August 2024

Homelessness Australia hosts Homelessness Week annually to build community support and government commitment to end homelessness.

During the week homelessness services and community groups raise awareness of the impact of homelessness, and the solutions needed to end homelessness, and advocate for change via national and local community events, media and social media activities.

In 2024, Homelessness Week 2024 will be held from Monday August 5 to Sunday August 11.

The theme for Homelessness Week 2024 is “Homelessness Action Now”.

RESOURCES

We have put together these resources and fact sheets about homelessness and best practice responses to homelessness.

National Housing and Homelessness Plan briefing and consultation events

Homelessness Australia has developed a series of briefing and consultation events to inform our collective process of developing submissions to the National Housing and Homelessness Plan. You can find all the information on the National Housing and Homelessness Plan page.

EXPLORE THE EVENTS

ENDING FIRST NATIONS HOMELESSNESS

To launch Homelessness Week 2023 Homelessness Australia, together with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association and Aboriginal Housing Victoria hosted a forum on Ending First Nations homelessness. Hear from:

The Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Homelessness
June Oscar AO, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
Ivan Simon, CEO, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association
Darren Smith, CEO, Aboriginal Housing Victoria
Tina Ugle, Managing Director, Noongar Mia Mia and Leonie Pickett, Noongar Mia Mia

WATCH THE FORUM

LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Practice Guide for Homelessness and Housing Sectors in Australia

This aims to provide a practical set of principles to implement systems and cultural change, as well as to serve as a source of useful information for people in the LGBTIQ+ community who are or might be accessing these services.

DOWNLOAD THE PRACTICE GUIDE

Explore other resources and research about LGBTIQ+ homelessness at the LGBTI Housing & Homelessness Projects website

Exploring the Census 2021 Homelessness Count: A deep dive with the ABS

Watch the sector briefing from the ABS to better understand the homelessness data in each state and territory. Or link to the ABS homelessness data

WATCH THE BRIEFING

About Housing First and FAQ

Find out about Housing First, including who Housing First is for, the applicability to young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, or women, and the history of this work. Access links to research and other resources.

VIEW RESOURCE

Homelessness Fact Sheets

Homelessness Australia’s vision is to end homelessness. This will only be possible with significant change to government policies to enable everyone to have the housing, income and support they need to gain and sustain a home. You can help end homelessness by adding your voice to advocacy. Use the resources below to inform your work.

2023 Homelessness Facts

DOWNLOAD

Definitions of Homelessness Fact Sheet

This Fact Sheet provides information about different definitions of homelessness, including the definition used by Homelessness Australia.

VIEW FACT SHEET

Child and Youth Homelessness Fact Sheet

This Fact Sheet provides information about the incidence, causes, risks and solutions to child and youth homelessness.

VIEW FACT SHEET

Click here to Read More…

Shelter WA

Homelessness Week 2024 Program of Events

Homelessness Week is a national annual event occurring the first week of August.

In 2024 the theme is Homelessness Action Now.

Homelessness Australia hosts Homelessness Week annually to expand understanding of the impact of homelessness, and the solutions needed to end homelessness.

During the week homelessness services and community groups educate the community and advocate for change via national and local community events, media and social media activities.

See the button below to download a copy of the statewide program that includes events and projects hosted by successful grant recipients for 2024.

Shelter WA are excited to host a range of events across Homelessness Week in August and invite you to join us to collectively understand homelessness in WA as we work together to identify, support and action solutions to end homelessness.

Everybody is welcome at our Homelessness Week events. A dedicated chill out space and wellness support is available. Dietary requirements will be catered to with vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free food available if you are attending in person. When you register, please let us know of any other ways we can support your attendance and participation.

Click here to Read More..

About

In 2024, Everybody’s Home will convene Australia’s first People’s Commission into the Housing Crisis.

What is the People’s Commission?

The People’s Commission is an opportunity for individuals and organisations across Australia to contribute to a national conversation about the housing crisis, its impacts and what can be done to fix it.

Why is it important?

The People’s Commission will provide a platform for everyday people to share their story about how the housing crisis is impacting them and their community. This is our opportunity to put real people in front of decision-makers to ensure meaningful action is taken.

What happens next?

Between March – May, Commissioners will review submissions and draft a report summarising the key findings. The Commission will then culminate in a series of in-person hearings, where members of the community will be invited to share their story directly with Commissioners and the media.

How can I get involved?

Any individual or organisation impacted by the housing crisis can make a submission via the form on our website. Submissions will be collated and synthesised to inform the final report, and a number of individuals will be invited to share their evidence directly with Commissioners.

Creating a Fair Housing Future

05/02/2024

Everyone needs a home. A home where they feel safe, a home that’s secure, and a home they can afford. Yet Australia’s housing market has never been less affordable. As Australians are spending record amounts on housing, hundreds of thousands of households are in severe rental stress, and the supply of social housing is depleting as waiting lists balloon.

The past four decades have marked a significant shift in how the Federal Government tackles housing. It used to fund public housing as its answer to housing affordability. This changed in the 1980s and 1990s, when the Government made the policy choice to subsidise the private market. It offered tax breaks to investors instead of providing affordable homes itself. This reliance on the private market continues to fail Australians. It is geared towards producing profits rather than providing homes.

Australia now spends record amounts of public money on housing, yet affordability has never been worse. By turning away from social housing and prioritising the tax treatment of investors, governments have pushed up the cost of housing for everyone. In doing so they have created a housing system where tax benefits are disproportionately skewed to the wealthy and inequality has increased.

Tackling this crisis will take time, and a willingness to put Australians who need a home ahead of all other interests. It will also require a concerted and enduring commitment from governments. However, with affordability worsening every single year, there is no time to waste to enact the solutions we need to fix Australia’s housing crisis.