“If people are constantly falling off a cliff, you could place ambulances at the bottom of the cliff or build a fence on the top. We are placing far too many ambulances under the cliff.” – Denis Parsons Burkitt.
We recently spent an illuminating week in Darwin at the National Housing & Homelessness Conference, where the resounding sentiment was clear: it’s time for change, and we have the opportunity to be the generation that develops a meaningful, coordinated solution to homelessness.
Here are our major takeaways from the conference:
A Unified Movement Towards a National Homelessness & Housing Plan
The sector is coming together to create a genuine movement towards a national plan. Until now, organisations have worked hard in their silos, making it difficult to measure collective progress towards our overarching goal. A cohesive strategy is essential for defining and achieving success.
Understanding That Homelessness Is Solvable
The Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH) defines solvable homelessness as brief, rare, and non-recurring. This has been proven globally, with regions in Canada, the United States, and especially Finland achieving significant success. The greatest barrier to solving homelessness is the widespread belief that it is an unsolvable problem. Recognising that it is indeed solvable is the first step towards making it a reality.
We Are Mobilise’s Role in the Solution
From our perspective at We Are Mobilise, it was refreshing to see where our unique programs fit into the larger puzzle. Our initiatives complement the excellent work of other charities, emphasising our value of collaboration. We had productive conversations with prospective partners and were thrilled to hear Youth Projects share the success of our collaboration on Mobilise Matched, our first direct giving program.
It’s time, Australia: let’s be the generation that refuses to accept homelessness as a fact of life. By coming together and recognising that homelessness is a solvable issue, we can build a future where everyone has a place to call home.
