How to Help this Homelessness Week

Homelessness Week aims to raise awareness of the impact of homelessness on Australia via national and local community events, including providing information on the importance of housing as a solution and educating communities on how they can make a difference.

This year, Homelessness Week runs from August 1 to 7, and the theme is “To end homelessness we need a plan“. 96five will be supporting the week with a number of special stories and conversations highlighting the work of those who are a part of the solution.

Get involved

Check out these wonderful organisations doing incredible work around Brisbane to address the issue of homelessness.

• Homelessness Australia – the national peak body for homelessness in Australia. They provide systemic advocacy for the homelessness sector and work with a large network of organisations to provide a unified voice when it comes to preventing and responding to homelessness.
• Beddown – The aim of Beddown is to take spaces that are commonly used and busy during the day but at night are left vacant or empty. Beddown then activates and repurposes the space at night into pop-up accommodation to ensure the homeless, those who are sleeping rough are then able to come and get into a bed at night. By providing a safe, secure and comfortable place to get a good night’s rest, we help restore health, dignity and respect for our guests.
• Emmanuel City Mission – As a ministry of Emmanuel Community, Emmanuel City Mission was established in 2009 to serve the vulnerable of Brisbane. The ministry was created as a volunteer, street-based outreach service and from 2014 a place-based sanctuary at 19 Merivale Street in South Brisbane. Open 7 days a week providing nutritious food, showers and washing facilities, clothing and toiletry packs and a safe space away from the street.
• Access Street Vans – Access Outreach Australia feeds, clothes and encourages 2000 homeless and disadvantaged people of Brisbane on a weekly basis through Access Street Vans.
• Nexus Care – Located in Everton Park, Nexus Care is an innovative, hard working not for profit organisation caring for the northern suburbs of Brisbane and beyond. The heart of Nexus Care is to alleviate poverty in our community.
• Fishers of Men – run a range of services, ministering without distinction to those who are homeless, at threat of homelessness, are poor or needy.
• The King’s Table Soup Kitchen – a ministry of New Hope Care, The Kings Table provides a free lunch every Friday to Brisbane’s homeless community. They also provide items to their guests as needed including groceries from our food pantry, clothing, blankets, and toiletries.
• Rosies: Friends on the Street – Rosies reaches out to those most in need, people who are homeless or at risk, lonely, and socially isolated within our communities. Rosies aims to provide friendship and unconditional acceptance to those doing it tough with a warm smile and a hot drink.
• Micah Projects – run a range of services including their “Home for Good” program, which works to prevent and end homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness are met and their rights protected.
• Brisbane Youth Service (Housing Support) – BYS has been operating in Fortitude Valley since 1977. In that time we have helped tens of thousands of young people (aged 12-25) experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, and their accompanying children. We assist vulnerable young people to find and maintain appropriate housing, address physical and mental health issues and establish successful relationships and support networks.
• Sheltered by Grace (Logan) – is a not-for-profit organisation based in Logan that exists to make a real difference in the lives of the homeless. The focus is on the provision of supported accommodation and dedicated programs for men and women over the age of 25 suffering from trauma that has led to homelessness.
• Helping Hands QLD (Brisbane & Ipswich) – a ministry to the homeless that calls on hostels, assisted accommodation and those sleeping rough, to try and reach those members of our community who may feel isolated, who may be living away from friends and family, who may be less advantaged, or who may simply enjoy a “cuppa” and a chat with some familiar faces on a regular basis. Helping Hands serves sandwiches, bread, cakes, biscuits and hot and cold drinks from their distinctive yellow vans that have been specially kitted out for this purpose.
• Orange Sky (Brisbane, Gold & Sunshine Coasts) – provide a platform for every day Australians to connect through a regular laundry and shower service. The focus is on creating a safe, positive and supportive environment for people who are too often ignored or who feel disconnected from the community. Our volunteers are not social workers or experts on homelessness – they are empathetic listeners and great conversationalists.
• United Hands of Hope Australia (Gold Coast) – is a newly formed charity feeding and clothing those experiencing homelessness. UHHA also provide assistance in attaining IDs, finding jobs and rehabilitation centres and connecting the homeless with third party services who cater for a person’s needs.

Stories of hope and impact

Check out these stories from our team and 96five contributors.

96five’s Nicky Joins Access Street Vans on the Streets of Brisbane

Access Street Vans have been serving Brisbane’s homeless for over 25 years and this Homelessness Week, Nicky decided to join them. Read more

Access Street Vans – Serving ‘Chicken and the Gospel’ to Brisbane

Ps Russ has been serving Brisbane’s homeless community for over 25 years with humility and passion through Access Street Vans. Read more

Sheltered By Grace – Making a Real Difference to Those Suffering Homelessness

Established in 2010 by husband and wife team Jason and Lisa Loakes, Sheltered By Grace in Logan exists to make a real difference in the lives of the homeless. Read more

Young People Overrepresented Among Brisbane’s Homeless

On any given night, 4454 young Queenslanders have no safe place to sleep. It’s an alarming statistic that might take you by surprise, but even more when you realise that 40 per cent of Brisbane’s homeless community are under 25. Read more