Too many Australians are going without, with around one in 10 people at risk of experiencing homelessness, but the real estate industry is stepping up to help tackle homelessness.
Place Estate Agents chief executive Damian Hackett is the latest real estate leader to increase awareness about the reality of homelessness and raise vital funds for organisations helping those experiencing homelessness.
“Homelessness isn’t always visible,” Mr Hackett said.
“It can mean moving from couch to couch, living out of a car, or relying on temporary arrangements.
“We feel a strong obligation to play our part in creating solutions and supporting those without a safe place to call home.”
Homelessness in Australia remains mostly invisible; what we see on the street was only a sliver of the problem.
The headline numbers were stark: on any given night, more than 122,000 Australians were without secure housing, yet rough sleeping made up just 6% of those experiencing homelessness.
Most were couch surfing, living in cars or moving through temporary accommodation. These pressures have been felt in Brisbane too, where Place is based.
Place Estate Agents chief executive Damian Hackett and his team will be participating in the A Night With Home campaign. Picture: Supplied
“Brisbane is a city built on community, yet we know people here are doing it tough,” Mr Hackett said.
“You don’t have to go far to see families under pressure with rising rents and living costs. If we’re serious about community, we need to be part of the solution right here in Brisbane.”
That conviction is why Place has signed on with the A Home for All Foundation, a national effort bringing the property industry together to use its scale, influence and networks to raise awareness, mobilise funds and back long-term change.
Its first campaign, A Night Without Home, runs through October, inviting individuals and teams to forgo the comforts of home for one night.
It will reflect on the hidden realities of homelessness and fundraise for reputable frontline charities via the foundation’s industry-led advisory committee.
One in 10 people are at risk of experiencing homelessness in Australia. Picture: Supplied
The Place team will take part by staying overnight at its headquarters in October.
“It’s a small sacrifice compared to what many Australians face every night, but it’s an opportunity for us to come together, raise awareness, raise funds and make a difference,” Mr Hackett said.
“As CEO, I talk a lot about our values, especially community. For me, this is a chance to live it out in a meaningful way. I’ve been fortunate to build a career around homes and security, that’s why it’s important to our business, and to me personally, to step up.”
The Place team has giving back to the community in its own way long before this new initiative.
Across the network, agents and offices were embedded in the neighbourhoods they served, supporting schools, local clubs and grassroots organisations and giving time through mentoring, local initiatives and volunteering.
That daily proximity informed how Place understood the fuller story of homelessness beyond the street and how it wanted to respond.
“When we recognise that most people experiencing homelessness are hidden, we broaden the conversation and who we think this affects,” Mr Hackett said.
“It’s not just a city-centre issue, it’s across suburbs and regions.”
The majority of people experiencing homelessness in Australia were couch surfing, living in cars or moving through temporary accommodation. Picture: Supplied
It comes as rising living costs, tight rental markets and economic uncertainty placed more Australians at risk of losing the stability of a home.
As an industry, Mr Hackett believed property professionals were well-placed to help - practically and persuasively.
“Our business is centred around property and people’s homes…that means we’re in a strong position to make a difference,” he said.
“Getting involved is about using our voice and our industry’s influence to help ensure every Australian has a safe place to call home.”
English (US) · 