This past Monday, I had the pleasure of attending the Order of Australian luncheon in the company of Deputy Principal - Students Sammy Cobon and 2024 Prefects, Bethany Dey and Kara-Lee Buckton. Guest speaker, David Grenfell OAM, a founding member and executive committee leader of The Shelter Collective, delivered a heartfelt and compelling message to all in attendance.
The Shelter Collective, formed by like-minded individuals in Central Queensland, holds an important mission - planning and delivering accessible and affordable housing for all, irrespective of their circumstances. Conversations began in April 2022, and the collective officially took shape in August 2022. It swiftly distinguished itself as an "ACTION" group rather than a "TALKING" group, believing in the power of community to combat the current housing crisis and empower others to advocate for change.
David Grenfell's message reverberated deeply within all of us as he expressed the urgency of taking action. "We have to do something, rather than sitting around for someone else to fix or solve the problem. We have a crisis in accommodation," he emphasised. Rising rent costs and the burdens of daily living have brought about a new demographic of people who are struggling to secure stable housing. The Shelter Collective, through the generous contributions of various businesses and individuals throughout the CQ community, is making a profound difference for the most vulnerable among us.
Since its inception last year, The Shelter Collective has raised over $1.6 million in donations and in-kind support. These invaluable resources are channelled towards local nonprofit agencies already working tirelessly in these areas, including Roseberry Queensland, Anglicare CQ, Apprenticeships and Training Queensland, and Community Leaders. David presented striking statistics that highlight the pressing need for the collective's work, including a 25% increase in Anglicare support in regional Queensland that has been overlooked by government funding. CQ stands as an epicentre for this housing crisis, with over 60 people per day accessing Roseberry services for basic needs such as washing clothes and collecting food parcels.
The Shelter Collective's first project, named ARC-20, has already made a substantial impact. Six cottages have been completed in less than six months to provide housing for women over 55, who represent 67% of the homeless demographic. What's truly remarkable is that the collective hasn't received any government grants or funding; every cent raised goes towards these projects. Project number 2 is now in progress with the development of a mobile Dignity Coach, a converted donated bus that will provide vital amenities such as a kitchenette, laundry, shower, and toilet.
Further emphasising the collective's mission to address homelessness, David revealed that they are investing in supported accommodation to offer a safe environment for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, a major contributor to homelessness. Four gated homes have been constructed, but more are urgently needed.
David's passionate call to action left us with a resounding message: it's not enough to say 'they' need to do something; 'they' must become 'we'. We must believe in the power of community. When students in the room asked how they could get involved, David offered practical steps:
1. Spread the word.
2. Fundraise and donate (time and labour).
3. Organise a volunteer day to help on the Dignity Coach.
4. Harness the power of word of mouth; 1,000 conversations can turn into 10,000 conversations.
5. Visit the Shelter Collective website (https://thesheltercollective.com.au/) to learn more.
As guests who listened to David's powerful message, we were deeply moved and motivated to get involved. In our ongoing mission to spread the message and purpose of The Shelter Collective, we are excited to announce that we have invited David to speak at an upcoming school assembly. From here, we will be devising plans for how Rockhampton Girls Grammar School can play a pivotal role in this invaluable community initiative in 2024.
Stay tuned for information on how we will be supporting this vital and inspirational community initiative in 2024.
For more information on The Shelter Collective and how you can get involved, please visit https://thesheltercollective.com.au/
Kara Krehlik
Principal