Everyone has a role to end homelessness. Central to our Theory of Change is engaging the community to call for the end of homelessness. As long as people expect that there will always be homelessness, it’s hard to create sustainable change. That is why we are increasing empathy in the community and empowering our partners to make lasting change.  

 Our work contributes to the SDGs 

Increase in acts of community engagement to end homelessness

We want society to understand that people don’t choose homelessness and that it can be experienced by anyone. By reducing the stigma of homelessness and helping society see that homelessness should not be accepted, we can engage the whole community in making a difference in our city. Our community has a vital voice to advocate for the funding and services that we partner to deliver. 

Through our work, we increase community empathy towards people experiencing homelessness. We work in partnership with those who are also committed to action, and we connect them with people with a lived experience of homelessness to create a movement for change. 

 Last year, we connected with an audience of over 13,500,000 by sharing lived-experience stories of tenacity, survival, and hope across print, radio, TV, and online media. With a total reach of over 5.5 million, our social media directly engaged 386,390 people, which is a 65% increase on the previous year.  

Our advertising across social media, including YouTube, PBS, Triple R and The Big Iissue, spread the message that Melbourne can be a world leading city in ending homelessness.     

Through community focused campaigns we received donations from over 7,300 generous individuals, a 34% increase from the previous year.   

Increase in value of partner support

We also engaged the community through events to raise the awareness of homelessness in Melbourne.   

In the Roughin’ It Challenge, Brooke Blurton, a proud Noongar-Yamatji woman, youth worker, mental health advocate, business owner and reality TV star, led almost 500 people to show their solidarity by giving up their creature comforts over a cold weekend in winter.    

Last year, over 20 corporate partners supported the movement for change and added their own audience, staff and skills to champion for this change.  

Thanks to our partners

SHAPE, a commercial fit-out specialist who provided significant in-kind support in the refurbishment of our Southbank site, rallying an army of subbies who pledged their skills and time to transform 26 rooms. 

Social Bums, toilet paper with purpose, who distributed our magazine, Our House, sharing stories and impact with their socially conscious customers. 

Neuron Mobility, who provided unlimited and free Neuron rides as part of a wellbeing initiative for our staff.