Freshly refurnished social housing units will be available to more people sleeping rough thanks to a joint initiative from Habitat for Humanity Australia, NSW Family and Community Services (FACs) and the City of Sydney.
“The number one thing we can do for people sleeping rough is increase the supply of supported accommodation,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“These 10 social housing units, furnished to a very short timeframe by our New Year’s Eve charity partner Habitat for Humanity, will create new opportunities for some of the most vulnerable people in our community to access accommodation and support.”
Habitat for Humanity worked with community volunteers over the past fortnight to furnish the apartments in the Sydney metropolitan area, assembling and installing brand-new furniture.
“This initiative and our partnership with the City of Sydney provides us with a unique opportunity to bring together corporate supporters and volunteers to do something practical that will change the lives of people living rough in Sydney,” said Martin Thomas, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Australia.
Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister for Social Housing Brad Hazzard said the Department is grateful to the not for profit and its corporate partners for donating time and effort to improve the accommodation of vulnerable people.
“We know the physical space in which people live in can affect their mood and mindset, so to have a home furnished with thoughtful, practical and attractive pieces will make a difference to many people who have very little,” Mr Hazzard said.
The City of Sydney’s homelessness unit works seven days a week to reduce homelessness and its impacts in the city.
Working in partnership with government and non-profit organisations, the unit helps prevent people from becoming homeless and supporting people who are sleeping rough to access safe and sustainable housing.
The City’s partnership with NSW Family and Community Services, NSW Health, NSW Police and specialist homelessness services has supported more than 130 rough sleepers access a safe place to call home since January 2015.
