Ideas sought for Gold Coast homeless to live with dignity

Gold Coast innovators are being encouraged to apply for grants under the new $2 million Dignity First Fund to help people survive homelessness with dignity. 

Speaking at the Gold Coast Homeless Connect event, Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said he was seeking new, non-traditonal ideas to help people through the hard times.

“Dignity First is about funding the best innovations to help the people experiencing homelessness, before a longer term solution has been reached,” Mr de Brenni said.

“The grant is open to social entrepreneurs and other community organisations with great ideas.

“We’ll be considering things like who the idea will benefit, where it will help, its scalability and the positive impact it could potentially have on people’s lives.”

The Dignity First Fund provides grants in three cateogies, the first the Start-up Category for social entrepreneurs and other community organisations that can bring a fresh perspective to addressing the challenges homeless people face.

The second is the Innovation Category for organisations to fund initiatives outside of our traditional way of thinking.

The third section is the Small Capital Grants Category to help existing housing and homelessness providers upgrade existing facilities, such as drop-in centres. 

Mr de Brenni said the Dignity First Fund complemented the $7.8 million the Palazczuk Government was spending on traditional homelessness services on the Gold Coast this year.

“We’re providing homeless people with the same opportunities that most of us take for granted, and the essentials of life that we all need for dignity and self-respect.”

Applications for Dignity First funds will be open until 30 September. Information is available on the Department of Housing and Public Works website at www.hpw.qld.gov.au/DignityFirst.

ENDS

Media Contact – Tristan Douglas 0447 164 197