The Palaszczuk Government has opened applications for the fourth round of its Dignity First Fund that supports innovative Queenslanders to help other Queenslanders who are experiencing homelessness.
Round four of the Fund will see a further $2.5 million made available to organisations working to reduce the impact of homelessness, and help people live with dignity by targeting projects that improve life skills, tenancy skills, education and employment opportunities.
Making the announcement at the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout last night, Housing Minister Mick de Brenni said it was a time to think on the importance of what could be achieved when the whole community came together to address homelessness.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s focus through Round 4 of the Fund is to provide additional support for those Queenslanders who were previously homeless, but who have found a place to live, to maintain and improve their circumstances,” Mr de Brenni said.
“We want to see projects that will provide sustainable improvements to a person’s situation and give them dignity that lasts.
“Projects such as those that provide people with essential life skills to give them a greater chance of sustaining a tenancy.
“And projects that help people make connections within their community, access other programs or provide practical living skills,” he said.
“We’re also seeking submissions that assist people into education, training and employment, enabling them to keep studying or working to minimise the risk of once again experiencing homelessness.”
Mr de Brenni said the Dignity First Fund invested in projects that provide a range of services to people experiencing homelessness or who were at risk of homelessness.
“We’ve particularly focused our efforts on young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people exiting institutions and care, and women and children escaping domestic and family violence,” he said.
“Funded projects over the past three years have made an immense difference in many people’s lives.
“Whatever situation you’re in, you have the right to live with dignity, and through Dignity First Fund projects the Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering that.”
Mr de Brenni said 40 Queensland organisations with 42 innovative ideas secured grants under the third round of the Queensland Government’s $2.5 million Dignity First Fund.
“These included mobile laundry and shower facilities, food vans and vending machines that provide free women’s sanitary products,” he said.
“We encourage all our new applicants to partner with other organisations in the homelessness sector to come up with projects which link in with current support programs and add value to them.
Up to $150,000 will be available per project to turn these ideas into reality, nominations open today and will be open for eight weeks.
The Dignity First Fund aligns with the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027 and Partnering for Impact, which aims to reduce homelessness in Queensland.
