During Homelessness Week 2022, over 650 cafes and 50 roasters, including locals Padre Coffee Noosa, Entity Coffee Roasters, and Clandestino Coffee, came together over their favourite brew to take action against homelessness.
This incredible collective effort in August has helped StreetSmart Australia distribute a total of $159,000 just before the festive season, and fund 130 frontline organisations that are supporting the most vulnerable.
Such a vital, local impact across so many regions in Australia is a testament to the enthusiasm and support of the roasters, cafes, sponsors, and of course, coffee lovers who got involved with CafeSmart.
This year in particular, it was also thanks to national cafe chain, The Coffee Club, which took part in the initiative with all their 253 stores.
The Coffee Club Australia chief executive officer Nick Bryden said, “At The Coffee Club, we are passionate about supporting our local communities and believe that everyone has the right to feel safe and secure. That’s why we are incredibly proud to be the first national cafe chain to be part of CafeSmart and do our bit to take action against homelessness and support grassroots organisations.”
Throughout a tough year of flooding, increasing rental stress, and cost of living pressures, many Australians have turned to their local community organisations for support and assistance.
It is these small, grassroots organisations that are responding to the needs of those most vulnerable in their communities, and why small grants are so important in the run into the holiday period.
Sunny Street is a local organisation that gives critical care and medical support to those rough sleeping and experiencing homelessness on the Sunshine Coast.
The Coffee Club cafes in Chancellor Park, Kawana Waters, and Mooloolaba all supported Sunny Street through their CafeSmart fundraising – ensuring rough sleepers in their local areas are cared for.
Sonia Martin from Sunny Street said, “This grant will support medical provisions such as wound care products out on the street with patients. Our patients are facing challenges like homelessness, despondency, chronic mental health issues, drug and alcohol addiction, and lack of equitable health services.”
Locally funded grants from CafeSmart fill the funding gaps for these organisations and ensure their programs supporting families, women, migrants, those sleeping rough, and those struggling to make ends meet can continue.
These grants are ensuring that vulnerable youth, struggling families, migrants, domestic violence survivors, and people experiencing homelessness are supported by their local networks.
For anyone interested in getting involved with CafeSmart in 2023, expressions of interest are already open at streetsmartaustralia.org/cafesmart/cafe-sign-up/#form
And to support the work StreetSmart Australia is doing across the nation along the year, tax-deductible donations can be made at streetsmartaustralia.org/donate/
