Seven ways to support Homelessness Week

Here are seven practical things you can do during and beyond Homelessness Week 2021, to join the fight to ensure everybody has a home.

1. Sign a Petition

Many women and children fleeing domestic and family violence cannot secure a safe home they can afford because of the high cost of rents. 

Too often, these women and their children are forced into the dangers and insecurity of homelessness, pushing many to return to a violent home.

This is why Everybody’s Home has launched a petition calling on Scott Morrison to make an urgent investment in social housing so that women and children can escape the violence, and build new lives.

Use this Homelessness Week to raise awareness of this issue and to spread the petition far and wide. Be sure to use #EverybodysHome. 

2. Attend the Parity Homelessness Week edition launch

You are invited to the launch of the Homelessness Week special edition of Parity magazine, Every Grain of Sand: Preventing Homelessness Deaths.

When: Friday 6 August
Time: 2.00pm – 3.30pm (AEST)
Where: Virtual launch via Zoom

The event will include a welcome from Council to Homeless Persons CEO Jenny Smith, followed by the launch of the edition by The Hon Jason Clare, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness.

Dr Mark Furlong, Preventing Homelessness Deaths Research Project Worker, is our keynote speaker, presenting an overview of the Every Grain of Sand: Preventing Homelessness Deaths report. 

Finally, a panel discussion will ask the question, What is to be done to prevent homelessness deaths?

The discussion will be moderated by Jane Barnes, Chair of the Preventing Homelessness Deaths Project Steering Committee and Chief of Staff at Wintringham. Our incredible line-up of panel members includes:

• Dr Mark Furlong, Preventing Homelessness Deaths Research Project Worker

• Karyn Walsh, CEO, Micah Projects Queensland

• Dr Amanda Stafford, Royal Perth Hospital Homeless Team

• Dr Jed Donoghue Acting GM Homelessness, Salvation Army

• Tracey Pahor Project Officer, Sacred Heart Mission

• Karyn Gellie Team Coordinator, Bolton Clarke

• Lisa Wood Associate Professor, School of Population and Global Health, UWA

Be sure to join us for this important discussion on the issue of homelessness deaths in Australia. 

3. Take part in an event or activity in your area

Communities and organisations across the country are hosting events to mark Homelessness Week. 

Whether it’s a sausage sizzle, a film screening, a seminar, an open day, or a radio campaign, there’s plenty to get involved in. Check the list at the Homelessness Australia website to find an event – many are being hosted online if you can’t get to them in person.

If you are hosting an event, be sure to register it with Homelessness Australia via the link below. 

4. Catch up with the Homelessness Australia launch event

Homelessness Australia launched Homelessness Week 2021 with a special digital event, filled with strong messages and insightful perspectives on homelessness in Australia today. 

After a welcome by Jenny Smith, Homelessness Australia Chair, the event was launched by Minister Sukkar, Minister for Housing and Homelessness.

Dr Angela Jackson, Lead Economist, Equity Economics then discussed her report commissioned by the Everybody’s Home campaign: Nowhere to go: the benefits of providing long term social housing to women who have experienced domestic and family violence. 

This was be followed by a panel discussion with Jason Clare MP, Shadow Housing and Homelessness Minister, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson on housing and homelessness, and Dr Angela Jackson – and hosted by the ABC’s Patricia Karvelas.

Catch some of the highlights in this Twitter thread and watch out for the event recording to be made available on the Homelessness Australia website.

5. Share a Message on Social Media

Homelessness Week is a chance to make some noise about homelessness and related social issues.

Share messages with your networks by posting on social media using the hashtags #HomelessnessWeek21 and #EverybodyNeedsAHome.

There are plenty of resources to support your efforts, including a range of downloadable materials from Homelessness Australia, and social tiles from Everybody’s Home. 

You are also encouraged to download the Everybody’s Home card to complete the sentence Building social housing would… 

You can take a picture of yourself holding the message, or complete the card as a digital graphic. Be sure to post on social media!

6. Create an Origami House

Community Information & Support Victoria (CISVic), the peak body representing local community information and support services, has created a campaign to encourage the Victorian Government to build 7,000 social housing properties a year for 10 years. The would continue the Big Housing Build beyond its current 4-year funding timeline.

To be involved you can make an origami house to post on social media. Download the resources pack below to take part and the campaign posters for more information

7. Speak to your MP

Arranging a meeting with your MP is a highly effective way of putting homelessness and housing on the agenda. It’s a chance to raise concerns, address questions, and set actions for change.

This Homelessness Week, you are encouraged to speak to your MP about homelessness and housing in your area. 

For a range of resources and tips, see the Homelessness Australia supporter pack.

With special thanks to the Council to Homeless Persons for the provision of these resources.