Ending Homelessness
The structural causes of homelessness in Australia are poverty and a critical shortage of social and affordable housing.
The solution to ending homelessness is long term, affordable housing with access to the supports that families and individuals need to flourish.
Ending homelessness requires structural and systemic change, with effective housing and support responses.
The Mercy Foundation works with organisations across Australia to support evidence-based solutions to end homelessness. Find out how Mercy Foundation Grants are ending homelessness.
Rare, brief and non-recurring
We support the belief that:
- homelessness should be a rare occurrence,
- any experience of homelessness is brief,
- our systems ensure that homelessness is not repeated for that individual.
What does ending homelessness look like?
- Experiencing homelessness will be a rare occurrence.
- Nobody will experience long term or chronic homelessness.
- Families and individuals experiencing a housing crisis get help before they become homeless.
- Where homelessness occurs, individuals and families receive immediate support and are re-housed as quickly as possible (Rapid Re-housing).
- Individuals with complex needs are offered long term housing with support services needed to help them restart their lives and sustain their housing (Housing First).
- Housing First and Rapid Re-Housing are ‘business as usual’ responses to homelessness in Australia.
Find out how Mercy Foundation Grants are ending homelessness.