For nearly 120 years, real estate group Woodards has been part of the fabric of Victorian life - helping people find homes, build community and put down roots.
But for chief executive Nigel O’Neil, that legacy also carries a responsibility to those who don’t yet have a place to call home.
“Homelessness isn’t a distant issue; it affects real people in the same streets and suburbs where we live and work,” he said.
“As a business built around housing and community, we see it as our responsibility to help create real and lasting change for those who need it most.”
On any given night, more than 122,000 Australians go without the security and stability of home - a figure that’s risen steadily as living costs and rents climb. Just 6% of people experiencing homelessness are sleeping rough.
The vast majority are hidden - couch-surfing, living in cars or cycling through temporary accommodation with no certainty about what comes next.
“It’s confronting how many families are right on the precipice,” Mr O’Neil said.
Woodards chief executive Nigel O’Neil said the real estate industry could make a genuine difference in addressing homelessness and housing insecurity. Picture: Supplied
“People are sacrificing necessities like food or heating to hold on to accommodation. It’s very real and it’s not just individuals – we’re talking whole families doing it tough.”
Woodards has joined A Home for All Foundation, a national initiative uniting the property industry to help end homelessness by leveraging its reach, relationships and influence.
Launched in September 2025, the foundation brings together leaders across real estate, home building and community housing to drive awareness, raise funds and back long-term change for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
For Mr O’Neil, industry collaboration was vital.
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“Government programs play a crucial role, but they can’t do it alone,” he said.
“As part of the property sector, we’re directly connected to homes, communities and the people who live in them. That puts us in a position where we can make a genuine difference. And we should.”
Woodards’ commitment to social impact is deep-rooted. Through the Woodards Foundation, the group has raised more than $1.7 million to support Vinnies programs, meals and emergency accommodation.
Since 2017, the company’s directors, staff and partners have taken part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, spending a winter night outdoors to raise both funds and awareness.
The majority of people experiencing homelessness couch surf, sleep in cars, or move from one temporary accommodation to the next. Picture: Supplied
For Mr O’Neil, the experience was always humbling.
“You hear first-hand the stories and challenges, how many people are fleeing from domestic violence or simply can’t find a safe place for their kids. It’s heartbreaking," he said.
Beyond fundraising, Woodards commits a portion of sales commissions and leasing fees to its foundation, ensuring consistent support year-round.
The company also works on property projects that provide temporary housing for families escaping domestic violence - a tangible extension of its belief that housing is a human right, not a privilege.
“Homelessness and housing insecurity aren’t side issues for us; they sit at the heart of what community leadership means," he said.
Mr O’Neil likened the homelessness conversation today to the early days of mental-health awareness.
“Years ago, mental health wasn’t talked about; it was taboo,” he said.
“Thank heavens that’s changing. The same needs to happen with homelessness. We have to keep the conversation going and work towards longer-term solutions.”
He’s hopeful that collective efforts like A Home for All will help Australians see homelessness differently - not as someone else’s problem, but as a national responsibility.
More than 122,000 Australians have no safe and secure place to call home on any given night. Picture: Supplied
“It’s closer than many people realise," he said.
"Friends, family, workmates - more and more people are finding themselves in temporary situations. Talking about it helps us move from awareness to action.”
With one in ten Australians now at risk of homelessness, the need for leadership has never been clearer.
“We’re at a crossroads,” Mr O’Neil said.
Just 6% of people experiencing homelessness are sleeping rough. Picture: Supplied
“Rising living costs, limited housing supply and more families displaced by domestic and family violence are putting pressure on systems that are already stretched. The challenges are getting bigger - but so is our capacity to help.”
Asked what he’d say to peers considering joining the movement, his answer was simple: “Because it’s the right thing to do.”
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