There has never been a better time to seek an end to rough sleeping homelessness in Australia than right now – but we need government action.
As you may know, on any given night there are approximately 8,200 people sleeping rough in Australia. Thanks to the incredible efforts of many of you, we have provided unprecedented support for communities connected to the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness. Together we provided temporary shelter for at least 5,000 people sleeping rough or at risk of sleeping rough during the first eight weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic alone.
This shows how eminently solvable the problem of rough sleeping in Australia is. Looking beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, we must ensure that these people are not pushed back onto the streets, but without urgent action that will be the only option available for many people.
We now have an urgent task to ensure that these 5,000+ sheltered people are not pushed back onto the streets. Homes Beyond COVID is an organised, collaborative effort aimed at providing both short- and long-term solutions.
Over the next few months, we’re requesting meetings with the federal government to present a sustainable response plan and discuss the action that all government’s needs to take to end rough sleeping homelessness in Australia. We want to use our collective voice to help shape the outcome and achieve an end to rough sleeping in Australia. Together we can make a difference.
Here are some ideas about how you can get involved:
- Pressure your local federal MP to take action by requesting a meeting.
- Share our campaign hashtag on social media #HomesBeyondCOVID
- Sign and encourage others to sign our petition.
- Get in touch with local media outlets and talk about this impending disaster.
As we approach National Homelessness Week, we’ll be ramping up our calls for Commonwealth Government investment in our work - culminating in a rough sleeping lived experience engagement briefing for political leaders. We are at a pivotal moment right now, any time you can invest in supporting this campaign could make all the difference.
Download the Homes beyond COVID Campaign Toolkit here.
The Western Australian Alliance to End Homelessness is a co-signatory to an open letter to the Prime Minister regarding the urgent situation concerning homeless people sleeping rough and COVID-19. Read it here.