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May 20, 2021
In Australia there are over 116,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night. 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.
Launched by Minister Sukkar, Minister for Housing and Homelessness and hosted by the ABC’s Patricia Karvelas, Dr Angela Jackson, Lead Economist, Equity Economics will talk about 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. Angela will outline the impact of lack of access to social housing on women fleeing violence, and the economic benefits to women and the community of providing safe affordable homes, so women can rebuild their lives
This will be followed by a panel discussion including including Jason Clare, Shadow Housing and Homelessness Minister, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson on housing and homelessness and Angela Jackson.
Use the hashtags #HomelessnessWeek21 and #EverybodyNeedsAHome to promote your events and share what you think Australia needs to prevent homelessness and increase housing. We will give you a shout out on our social pages!
Plan community activities and local advocacy using our resources pack. The pack includes social media tiles, posters and templates for events and advocacy.
If you’re planning a community event to provide information on housing as a solution, let us know! We will feature your event on this page for people to browse through and join.
Browse a range of Homelessness Week events from across the country below.
Official Launch: Housing Solutions to End Homelessness
Tuesday 3 August 2021 | 9:00 – 10:30 am AWST
Perth, WA
Shelter WA in partnership with the WA Alliance to End Homelessness, are proud to announce that Homelessness Week 2021 will be officially opened by Simone McGurk MLA, Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services.
Ending Homelessness Report Launch
Tuesday 3 August 2021 | 11:00 – 12:00 pm AWST
Perth, WA
The first End Homelessness Report was released back in 2019. Much has happened since then and the latest 2021 report brings together both existing and recent data and connect that to what we know in terms of the thinking, responses and initiatives in Western Australia that are currently emerging.
Wicked Problems and Messy Data
Tuesday 3 August 2021 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm AWST
Perth, WA
Shelter WA and the WA Alliance to End Homelessness are pleased to welcome Shannen Vallesi Research Associate from the School of Population and Global Health UWA. Shannen will draw on insights from their current suite of homelessness and health research (including the evaluations of Perth’s Housing First project; Advance to Zero and the By-Name Tool).
Older Women & Housing Solutions for Ageing Well
Wednesday 4 August 2021 | 9:00 – 1:00 pm AWST
Perth, WA
Shelter WA & WA Alliance to End Homelessness invite you to a series of talks about permanent, safe & secure housing options for older women. Australian women aged 55yrs + that are experiencing homelessness has increased by 28%. and they’re the fastest growing group of people at risk.
Tuesday 3 August | 3:00 – 4:00 pm AEST
Online event
This Homelessness Week, you are invited to the launch of the Unison Housing Research Lab’s latest report Sustaining Social Housing by Dr Sarah Taylor and Prof Guy Johnson from RMIT University, followed by an interactive panel discussion.
Find more information and register here
Tuesday 3 August | 5:30 – 9:30 pm ACST
Katherine, NT
A family-friendly night out under the stars which will include meals, entertainment, and prizes together with the films “Daddy Daycare” and “Are We There Yet”. A free event to promote the awareness of homelessness.
#thisishomelessness
Tuesday 3 – Friday 6 August
Townsville, QLD
A static display to represent all the many places that we have people who are homeless sleeping – not just rough sleepers. Displays will reflect people with lived experience sharing stories on how they became homeless and how the community can help. Staff from organisations will be available 10am – 2pm to have conversations with people.
Visit the static display at:
Willows Shopping Centre
13 Hervey Range Road
Thuringowa
Key contact: Sallie Kearnan, The Women’s Centre, 07 4775 7555
#giftitorgohome – Donation Campaign for the month of August
Sunday 1 – Tuesday 31 August
Southern Cross Austero, mmm radio
Local radio station campaign to raise funds via gift cards for the community to use to assist people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness within Townsville. Interviews to be completed with people with lived experience and service providers. Stay tuned for the whole month to learn more.
Get more information and GiveNow
Key contact: Sharehouse Youth Programs Manager 07 4771 5346
Thursday 5 August | 10:00 am AEST onwards
North Rockhampton, QLD
The Anglicare Central Queensland Homelessness Team would like to extend an invitation to attend a sausage sizzle in the park as an opportunity to come together as a community in tackling homelessness. Volunteers, service providers and those in need are welcome to join for the day.
Friday 6 August | 11:00 am AEST
Canberra, ACT
The NFSA is proud to partner with the Clemente Canberra Program and the St Vincent de Paul Society to present this special screening of A Reckoning in Boston as part of National Homeless Week.
Find more information and book here
Launching Sunday 1 August
Victoria
CISVic is launching a three-month housing campaign asking the community and homelessness sector to host origami house building activities, to build origami houses and write messages about what housing means on them. See some example here.
The campaign aims to influence the Victorian Government’s Ten-Year Strategy for Social and Affordable Housing. CISVic is asking the state government to commit to increasing social and public housing stock by 7,000 houses or units per year in Victoria for the next 10 years.
You are encouraged to get involved during homelessness week and share your messages with your networks, colleagues, and friends.
Gladstone Homeless Connect event
Tuesday 3 August | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm AEST
20 Rollo Street, Gladstone QLD 4680
Rockhampton
Wednesday 4 August | 10:00 am – 12:00 noon AEST
155 Alma Street, Rockhampton QLD 4700
Roseberry House Youth Shelter Open Day
Thursday 5 August | 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm
20 Rollo Street, Gladstone QLD 4680
Tuesday 3 August | 8:00 am – 12:00 noon ACST
Darwin, NT
Homeless Link Up is a free event for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness at the Casuarina Library. Includes a BBQ, coffee and tea, haircuts, care packs, entertainment, therapy dogs, clothing vouchers, information stalls, and library tours.
Tuesday 3 August 10am – 12pm ACST
NT
Morning Tea and Sausage Sizzle
The Waterhole Alice Springs: Free morning tea and sausage sizzle, hosted by The Salvation Army and NT Shelter.
Tuesday 3 August at 4pm ACST
Facebook Live
To celebrate Homelessness Week 2021, NT Shelter will be going live on Facebook to highlight several of our Central Australian member organisations. Tune into Alice Springs and Tennant Creek from wherever you are in Australia, to meet the team from Community Housing Central Australia
Friday 6 August at 9am ACST
Facebook Live
To celebrate Homelessness Week 2021, NT Shelter will be going live on Facebook to highlight several of our Central Australian member organisations. Tune into Alice Springs and Tennant Creek from wherever you are in Australia, to meet the team from Catholic Care NT in Tennant Creek.
August 1 – 7
Adelaide SA
Walk a Mile in my Boots Challenge
Held during National Homelessness, your challenge is to Walk a Mile or more to help end homelessness.
While we can’t come together enmasse, we can come together, but apart, to reach our collective goal of walking 60,000 miles – ten miles for every person experiencing homelessness in South Australia.
You can walk 1 mile (1.6kms), 2 miles (3.2kms), or go the extra mile and challenge yourself to walk 6 (9.6kms). You set your own personal challenge – you choose how many miles you walk and where you walk.
Monday 2 August | 12.00 to 14.oo AEST
Where – Annerley Baptist Church, 560 Ipswich Road, Annerley
Brisbane| QLD
Everyone needs a home! All are very, very warmly invited to join a Celebration of Community Connections and Belonging – a Homelessness Week event , hosted by the Community Connections and Belonging team – Annerley Baptist Church, Community Plus and Brisbane City Council.
Come celebrate Community with delicious food, friendship, music and lots of party fun!!!!
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