The property sector is putting its money where its mouth is, with A Home for All Foundation distributing more than $1 million to frontline charities following the success of a recent campaign.
The campaign ‘A Night Without Home’ aimed to raise awareness and funds by highlighting the often invisible nature of homelessness. Imagery used in the campaign highlighted that 94 per cent of homelessness is not visible to the public eye.
The funds were raised in October, when more than 350 participants across 65 teams spent a night without shelter to highlight the issue of “hidden homelessness”. The $1 million is going to four charity partners working across metro, regional and remote communities.
Sydney-based Women’s Community Shelters is set to receive the largest share, $400,000, to transform an underutilised site into temporary accommodation, transitional housing and a community hub for women and children fleeing violence.
The remaining three organisations: Justice Connect, Friends with Dignity and Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia, will each receive $200,000 to expand services ranging from homelessness prevention and legal support to furnishing homes and delivering wraparound care beyond crisis accommodation.
A Home for All Foundation Advisory Committee chair and LJ Hooker Group CEO Christine Mikhael said the initiative showed what could be achieved when the property industry acts collectively.
“Through the work of the foundation, our industry is stepping up as a collective to back charitable organisations that make a real difference, so fewer families are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity,” she said.
“The funds raised through A Night Without Home will create pathways out of crisis and build the foundations for long-term stability.”
Mikhael added the funding is expected to directly support more than 2,000 women and children, with a further 10,000 people benefiting from access to resources and services.
For Annabelle Daniel, CEO of Women’s Community Shelters, the funding will go straight to the frontline of the housing crisis.
“Domestic and family violence is a leading cause of homelessness in Australia, disproportionately affecting women and children. Eighty-eight per cent of our shelter residents are escaping domestic and family violence,” she said.
“The generous donation is the difference between having nowhere to go, and walking through the door to a welcoming home where you are safe, supported, and given the chance to start again.”
REA Group chief commercial and marketing officer Kul Singh said the funding would amplify the work already being done on the ground.
“This funding is about giving our charity partners the capacity to do more of what they already do best,” Singh said.
“It will help create additional safe places to stay, keep women and children in secure housing, provide legal and social work support, rapidly set up furnished homes, and extend wraparound services beyond crisis accommodation.”
He added that while the campaign marks a strong start, the scale of the issue means sustained effort is needed.
“REA believes everyone deserves a safe place to call home. We know there is more work to be done, and we’re committed to backing the foundation and partnering with the industry to bolster the support of those impacted by homelessness.”
