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.