Grassroots initiatives to end homelessness are given a boost by Ray White and A Home for All Foundation

The foundation has announced how the first $1 million raised will deliver urgent support throughout 2026-27 for those experiencing homelessness due to domestic and family violence.

After 30 grant applications, and then a shortlist of 10, the final recipients of the first $1 million was narrowed down to four organisations: Women’s Community Shelters, Friends with Dignity, Justice Connect, and the Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia.

From Inner West Sydney to remote Central Australia, the funding will support empty buildings being turned into safe homes, preventing homelessness before it starts, and helping women and children move from crisis to stability, with tenancy protection and pathways out of crisis.

The A Home For All Foundation committee has an ambitious “ultimate goal to end homelessness”, and while the work is just beginning, the first year has yielded a strong result.

Last October, the inaugural A Night Without Home campaign asked people to spend one night in the shoes of someone experiencing homelessness - a reality for more than 122,000 Australians face on any given night.

Most homelessness exists out of public view, with 94 per cent considered “hidden”, meaning many are couch surfing, sleeping in cars or in unstable, temporary housing. Ray White members joined others across the industry to shine a light on this growing issue and help create real change.

Those who got behind the cause spent a night without the basic comforts of home. Ray White Nundah and national Concierge offices were among those who participated, giving up their beds to spend the night on their office floor.

“Ray White kicked off our support for the foundation at our Connect 2025 conference, where we live auctioned to a crowd of 3,000 people an incredible line-up of experiences and prizes that money can’t usually buy,” said Natalie Hortz, A Home for All Foundation advisory committee member and Ray White Group’s Head of Organisational Development.

“Our industry is powerful and we’re in a position to help drive this change and to start important conversations that help make a real difference in local communities.”

The recipients of the grants were chosen for their dedication to making the biggest impact for women and children facing homelessness.

Women’s Community Shelters (based in Ashfield, New South Wales) works with local councils and the property sector to transform an underused Inner West site into supported temporary accommodation, transitional housing and a community hub for women and children.

Friends with Dignity, a national, volunteer‑powered charity, partners with local services to turn empty properties into fully furnished homes within days and provide essential items and scholarships, delivering rapid, practical support at scale.

Justice Connect, a women’s homelessness prevention program operating out of Victoria but with a national digital reach, facilitates early‑intervention legal and social work, helping victim survivors avoid homelessness. They assist survivors by supporting tenancies, negotiating with landlords and housing providers, and implementing the self-help digital tool, Home of Your Own.

Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia is a specialist service providing 24/7 crisis accommodation and outreach across Central Australia, including many Aboriginal communities in remote and very remote locations, helping women and children move from crisis beds into safe, longer‑term homes.

“Looking ahead over the next 12 months, our partnerships are set to create real change for women and children escaping domestic violence,” Ms Hortz said.

“At Women's Community Shelters, 1,000 women will access temporary accommodation and transitional housing. This wrap-around support helps them regain stability and safety, providing a brighter future for their families.”

“Similarly, our support for Friends with Dignity provides the stability needed to help almost 1,000 families move out of homelessness and into secure environments.

“Through Justice Connect, 100 women will receive intensive, personalised support to avoid homelessness, while thousands more will use the Home of Your Own resource for vital legal and social help.

“Finally, at Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia, 30 women will be guided through intensive services to safely exit unsafe situations. By focusing on these essential steps, we are helping more people find the safety and dignity they deserve as they start their next chapter.”