CaféSmart has finalised the grants from this year’s event, which helped raise $160,523.
One hundred per cent of the funds were combined with substantial funds raised through the StreetSmart Collective initiative and other one-off gifts to make a total $223,000 to distribute to 118 community grants.
“These grants support people who are homeless or at risk in communities where cafés have raised the funds,” says Streetsmart Australia CEO Adam Robinson. “We fund the wish lists of the organisations we support, we fund the programs they can’t find funding for, and we fund the essentials that really make a difference.”
The CaféSmart grants fund a wide variety of responses to homelessness, including Pets in the Park to run outreach clinics, Coast Shelter to refurbish a shower and laundry, Sherwood Neighbourhood Centre to provide hygiene packs, Hobart City Mission to support homeless young mums, Merri Outreach to provide intensive support for young children, and My Friends Place Womens Refuge to build storage for women’s belongings.
Of the 118 projects funded, 28 of those were first time recipients. This grants round also saw the nomination of 14 Lead Projects, which received larger grants and were put forward for matching.
StreetSmart has now raised $4.1 million since commencing in 2003 and has funded 1346 community projects at 486 organisations.
The record-breaking total is also thanks to the collected efforts of this year’s 549 participating cafés, 42 coffee roasters and thousands of coffee drinkers who supported the cause on 5 August.
“CaféSmart brought together close to 600 small businesses across Australia to take action against homelessness during National Homeless Prevention Week. The event not only raised vital funds but also created great awareness around the issue of homelessness and what people can do to help in their local communities,” Adam says. “It is hugely encouraging to be working with like-minded people, and now other funders, who see the value in supporting the work that smaller organisations do on the front line, day in day out.”
For more details about CaféSmart 2016 and top fundraisers click here.
For a grants breakdown state by state click here:
For more information on CaféSmart and to get involved click here or call Adam Robinson on 0488 336419.
* Image: Pets in the Park – one of the projects to receive funding.
