Homelessness Action Now

August 5, 2025

As we mark Homelessness Week (4–10 August), it’s a timely and important opportunity to reflect on the urgent and growing need for safe, secure and affordable housing in our communities. 

At Foundation Housing, we believe that everyone deserves a place to call home – a place where they can feel safe, build stability, and have the opportunity to thrive. This belief drives our work every day. 

Homelessness is not just the absence of shelter. It is a complex issue linked to family and domestic violence, mental health, unemployment, poverty and systemic barriers. It affects more than 122,000 Australians on any given night – and right here in Western Australia, we see the rising demand and the faces behind these numbers. They are young people, older people, First Nations people, families, and essential workers who are being priced out of the private rental market. 

This year’s Homelessness Week theme, “Homelessness Action Now” couldn’t be more aligned with our mission. 

Across all areas of our organisation – from property management and tenant services to partnerships and development – we are committed to creating sustainable tenancies and inclusive communities. We are proud to provide nearly 3,000 homes to people across WA, and we continue to invest in new housing solutions to meet growing demand. 

But our impact goes beyond bricks and mortar. Our work supports individuals and families to regain independence, reconnect with community, and rebuild their futures. Through our Positive Tenancy Framework, wraparound supports, and community initiatives, we see daily how stable housing can transform lives. 

Homelessness Week is also a call to action. As an organisation and as a sector, we know we cannot do this alone. Lasting change comes from continued collaboration – with government, community services, corporate partners, and the broader public. Together, we must keep advocating for increased investment in social and affordable housing and for policies that prevent people from falling into homelessness in the first place. 

Thank you to all our staff, partners and supporters who work tirelessly to uphold our purpose and values. This week, I encourage everyone to take a moment to learn more, speak up, and support efforts that bring us closer to ending homelessness. 

Because housing ends homelessness – and together, we are part of the solution. 

Chris Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Foundation Housing