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.

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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.

Over the 10 years, Diginty has grown from one guesthouse for women and children experiencing homelessness to multiple guest homes across 25 locations, supporting and empowering up to 400 people experiencing homelessness each night.

To mark the occasion, we will be hosting our first ever Gala Dinner to raise much-needed funds for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Join CEO and Founder Suzanne Hopman and emcee, journalist Sarah MacDonald, and the Dignity team for an evening of fine food, beverages and lively entertainment including a live auction and music to dance the night away.

Together we can create lasting change, empowering people to prevent, respond to and end their homelessness.

We hope you can join us!

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Friday 15 August 2025
Time: 7pm–11pm
Where: Doltone House Hyde Park, Sydney

Buy tickets here

After three impactful years of partnership, working together to make a difference, the Raine & Horne Foundation have pledged additional support contributing $100,000 in 2025 to enable Dignity to further advance our ‘1 Million Meals’ project as well as explore interstate expansion for Dignity’s supported temporary accommodation and longer-term housing programs.

With more people at risk of or experiencing homelessness than ever, this donation will ensure Dignity is there to support and walk alongside as people are empowered to find their way forward.

“Thank you Raine & Horne foundation for believing in Dignity’s mission of empowering people with Dignity to prevent, respond to and end their homelessness. On top of the financial donations, the Raine & Horne team has provided countless hours of corporate volunteering over the years and launched creative collection drives to support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. We are grateful for their continued support. Collaboratively, we can end homelessness in Australia.”

Suzanne Hopman, Dignity CEO

In Partnership with Homes NSW and NSW Government’s Homelessness Innovation Fund (HIF), Dignity’s new Transition To Lease Housing program is an innovative initiative designed to help families experiencing homelessness to secure private rental housing. Many families experiencing homelessness face barriers such as poor rental history, existing debts, or sudden life changes, which make it difficult to compete in the increasingly competitive rental market.

The Transition To Lease Housing program provides residents with a  leased home, complete with furniture and appliances, along with essential support and tenancy education to support families towards a transfer of lease during the 12-month program period.

Stable housing, tailored wrap-around support and tenancy education will provide families with the opportunity for long-term tenancy success, empowering them to end their homelessness.

Dignity recently secured grant funding as part of the NSW Government’s Homelessness Innovation Fund (HIF) for a new program that will enhance Dignity’s cultural capability to effectively support our First Nations guests in our Temporary Accommodation and longer-term housing programs through enhanced collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and specialist support and advice.

Australia’s First Nations people have long been overrepresented among those experiencing homelessness. By enhancing Dignity’s cultural capability through the implementing of speciality programs and practices, and improving our collaboration with Aboriginal services, we look to improve housing outcomes for First Nations people experiencing homelessness.

Commencing this month, Dignity’s Fist Nations Specialist Jess Eather, along with National Housing Manager Tanya Field, will deliver the Cultural Capability Building program activity over an initial 12 month period.

At Dignity, we pride ourselves on living and upholding our values – Core Dignity, Show you Care, Strive to Innovate and Act with Integrity. These values are what sets the high standard to which we hold ourselves.

This month that high standard has been recognised with the announcement that Dignity has achieved Australian Service Excellence Standards (ASES) accreditation, accredited at Certificate Level.

“Your achievement is a culmination of hard work and dedication by the people within your services to create a quality organisation. Your organisation’s commitment to quality and continuous system improvement is commended.”

ASES

This Sunday is Neighbour Day and as a Very Neighbourly Organisation, Dignity celebrated this year’s theme ‘Create Belonging – Share Belonging’, with a series of events with our longer-term housing residents.

A BBQ lunch was held for our younger and older residents at Dignity’s Intergenerational Studios while our Ready To Work Housing residents joined our Meet Your Neighbour evening..

“In 2020, Dignity joined the neighbourly movement being named by Relationships Australia as a ‘Very Neighbourly organisation’ to help build ongoing community connections, respectful relationships, sustainable connections and reducing loneliness in our communities.”

Suzanne Hopman, Dignity CEO

The annual Neighbour Day events provide the perfect opportunity to increase social connection in your local area.  To learn more visit www.neighbourseveryday.org

Learn more about Dignity’s longer-term housing programs Intergenerational Studios and Ready to Work Housing here.

This Christmas, join in the festive fun of building a gingerbread house and help end homelessness in Australia.

Gingerbread Folk Gingerbread House Kits not only make a wonderful gift for family, friends, staff and clients, but will also help Dignity to meet the increasing demand for our services and support and empower people to end their homelessness.

Christmas Gingerbread House kits are Australian-made, all-natural, are egg and nut free and include royal-icing mix, baseboard, piping bag and instructions. All that is left to do is grab your lollies and get building – either at home or build together for a festive team or community event.

Use Dignity’s fundraising link to purchase Gingerbread House kits and receive a 5% discount on your purchase. Buy 10 or more kits and receive bulk purchase discounts.

Build a House for Dignity Gingerbread Houses cost $44.99 per kit and are available now.

To purchase Dignity Gingerbread House kits, simply click the Purchase Now button below.

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.

This week, in partnership with NSW Department of Communities & Justice, we opened two new guest houses to support larger families experiencing homelessness in Southwest Sydney.

The demand for Dignity’s supported temporary accommodation is greater than ever right now and sadly, we turn away bookings every day because our homes are full on most nights.

With these two beautiful new homes, we will have the ability to support more families to find their way forward out of homelessness. In fact, the homes have been full since we opened the doors.

A big thank you to the team from Endeavour Energy who were on site to help with setting up the houses including the construction of many pieces of flat pack furniture.