The first week of August was Homelessness Week, featuring the theme Homelessness Action Now. The week was an important opportunity for YWCA Australia to raise awareness of the growing housing crisis and advocate for lasting change.
This year, our campaign centred on housing as a human right, highlighting that housing is about much more than a roof over someone’s head: safe, secure housing provides safety, dignity, freedom, opportunity, wellbeing, participation in education and employment, and stronger communities.
Yet too many women, gender diverse people and young people continue to experience housing insecurity and homelessness.
Throughout the week, YWCA Australia shared lived experience perspectives, frontline insights and advocacy stories showing why secure housing matters, and why homelessness is not inevitable. CEO Diana Sayed and Board Director Linda Le had the opportunity to appear on ABC News Breakfast to discuss these important issues and to highlight the role young people can play in creating change through collective advocacy and action.
Thank you to everyone who took part and shared our campaign posts on social media. Housing is more than shelter. It’s a human right.
For more information on how you can get involved, visit our Advocacy Campaigns web page.