Last year as World Homeless Day was marked across the globe, 10 year old Anjali was busy reading and advocating for those experiencing homelessness after seeing people sleeping rough in her local area. Her passion and action has resulted in $2,750 being raised to support grassroots responses to homelessness in Melbourne. The StreetSmart team sat down with Anjali to hear more about her motivations and congratulate her on an incredible outcome in advocacy and impact!
Too many children are starting the new year living in tents, caravans, motel rooms, and cars as our homelessness crisis deepens. We are on a mission to raise vital funds and awareness to provide essential services such as trauma informed therapy, back to school educational needs, and provide safe accommodation.
Family violence, relationship breakdowns and the soaring cost of living are placing more young people at risk of homelessness, while our housing crisis makes it increasingly difficult for homeless youth to find a safe and secure home. At-risk and vulnerable youth are increasingly falling through the gaps and being turned away from support services. This April we are supporting Youth Homelessness Maters Day (YHMD) and raising funds to support youth facing homelessness into safe and stable housing, breaking the cycle of disadvantage.
The impact of poverty on children is often profound and enduring, yet one in six Australian children currently live in poverty. It is forecast that the rate of child poverty will exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2023, having been reduced through the pandemic by the COVID Supplement payments. As we continue to be impacted by the ongoing pandemic and cost of living pressures, we are seeing rising rates of homelessness and family violence. We need early, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate and culturally safe, sustained support for children, but also for families experiencing hardship.
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We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the unceded lands on which our organisation is located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to Elders, past and present. StreetSmart is committed to honouring Indigenous peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.
StreetSmart is an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming workplace that values diversity of expression. We know that members of the LGBTQIA+ community are particularly vulnerable to experiencing homelessness and we partner with organisations that work to support people in need, without discrimination or prejudice.
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