Homelessness in Australia remains a pressing and complex social issue, which has only been exacerbated by a worsening housing crisis that continues to push more individuals and families into homelessness.

Rental prices have continued to soar, and affordable housing stock has dwindled resulting in the number of people at risk of or experiencing homelessness rising. This includes not only those sleeping rough, but also the hidden homeless: people couch surfing, living in cars, or staying in crisis accommodation.
 
Homelessness can happen to anyone. However, it disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as women escaping domestic violence, First Nations communities, younger and older people.

Our sincere gratitude goes to Dignity’s past guests and residents who bravely shared their story for our Many Faces of Homelessness video.

In sharing these stories, we hope to educate by breaking down the myths and stigma surrounding people experiencing homelessness, and to motivate by encouraging government, businesses, services, and the community to come together to find the solutions needed to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and not repeated.

Dignity was founded in 2015 and over the past ten years, the organisation has grown from one guesthouse for women and children experiencing homelessness to multiple guest homes and housing residences across 25 locations, supporting and empowering up to 400 people experiencing homelessness each night.

Two weeks ago, we hosted out first-ever Gala Dinner to mark Dignity’s 10th Anniversary and raise much-needed funds to support even more people in the future. What a night it was! We are deeply grateful to the many individuals and businesses who contributed to making the evening such a success.

Thank you to our event sponsors Endeavour Energy, Winning Group/Appliances Online, Fantastic Furniture, HSL Group, 5 Star Builders, SDJA and Happy Hair Brush. We asked our event sponsors to share why they choose to support Dignity and people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

---

Thank you to those who volunteered their time including emcee extraordinaire Sarah Macdonald, videographer Rob Leggo, Photographer Rob Lloyd, Dignity Dish volunteers and Brigidine College St Ives students. And to everyone who joined us on the night, and to those who joined in from home buying raffle tickets and bidding on the auction items, thank you for your generous support of people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

---

Our 10th Anniversary video reflects on this journey—highlighting key moments, stories and the collective effort of our team, volunteers, partners and community who have all played a part in ending homelessness in Australia, one person at a time.

A very big thank you to our partner Birribee Housing and artist Uncle Dave for the gift of this meaningful artwork. Representing the importance of partnerships within community, the artwork symbolises how working together and valuing Aboriginal voices can lead to stronger, more connected and culturally safe communities. It also celebrates unity, belonging and the ongoing strength of Aboriginal culture and identity.

---

Throughout Reconciliation Week this week, our team have attended community events to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures and more about this year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next. The theme is a call for all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.

Dignity is committed to looking ahead and pushing forward to progress reconciliation. We are also committed to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specialist homelessness and housing organisations to improve outcomes for First nations people experiencing homelessness in Australia.

Did you know that when someone finds themselves experiencing homelessness in Australia, there is government support available for supported temporary accommodation in most states.

However, for those people not eligible for government assistance due to their citizenship or visa status, it can be a particularly challenging time when life takes an unexpected turn.

Dignity’s new Ineligible for Government Housing Assistance (IHA) program is designed to support people experiencing homelessness where possible, regardless of their citizenship or visa status.

This support includes food relief, supported temporary accommodation and opportunities to participate in Dignity’s longer-term housing programs such as Ready To Work Housing.

Dignity currently supports three IHA residents in the Ready To Work Housing program.

Each year, Homelessness Week aims to raise awareness of the causes and impact of homelessness in Australia. In Australia, there are over 122,494 people experiencing homelessness on any given night.

We are taking this opportunity to share the latest facts and statistics about who is experiencing homelessness, why people become homeless and how, through collaboration, we can end homelessness in Australia.

• 1 in 7 people experiencing homelessness are children under 12
• 23% of people experiencing homelessness are aged between 12 and 24
• 1 in 5 people experiencing homelessness are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
• Only 6.2% of people without a home are sleeping rough. The rest are considered the ‘hidden homelessness’ – for example, this includes people in crisis accommodation, overcrowded dwellings or couch surfing.

People experience homelessness for many different reasons and no two stories are the same. So what are some of the reasons someone may find themselves without a safe place to stay?

• 52% of people seeking homelessness services say issues with housing or finances, such as the affordability of rent, are the main reason they need help
• 28% cite family violence or other violence and abuse as the main reason they need help
• 5% cite other family relationship issues
• 15% cite other issues

Collaboration is the answer! When government, homelessness support and other services, charities, businesses and the community come together, we can achieve so much more and this collaborative effort can end homelessness. To solve the issues surrounding homelessness people require:

• Access to employment and adequate incomes
• A home (affordable and accessible)
• Freedom from violence and abuse
• Effective support to gain and retain housing

At Dignity, we have a focus on programs that provide stable housing, access to employment and the wrap-around support needed to break the cycle of homelessness and empower people to find their path forward and not look back.