StreetSmart believes everyone should have a safe and secure place to call home. It is a basic human right. StreetSmart exists to champion and support the smaller, grassroots, frontline organisations that are critical in responding to homelessness. Founded by Adam Robinson in 2003, StreetSmart has worked to bring about change for people at risk and experiencing homelessness for the past twenty years.

SleepSafe is a collaborative program between StreetSmart and Sheridan Australia that aims to fund and distribute quality sheet and towel kits to people across Australia who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Launched in September 2019, Sheridan staff activated the fundraising, production, and distribution of kits. StreetSmart connects with local organisations and frontline homelessness services that can provide the kits to people in need. Each Sleep kit consists of a set of sheets, pillowcases, and a towel. The program has grown incredibly from the first few months, and demand has only increased as the cost-of-living crisis has placed more pressure on community services and the people they support.

The aim of SleepSafe is tri-fold, to support the immediate needs of those facing and experiencing homelessness with material aid, to ease pressure on frontline homelessness services by saving staff time and money, and to build more connected and resilient communities through creating opportunities for local led positive action.

SleepSafe is a program with a heartbeat within both organisations, from the executive leadership through to store-level staff and community partners on the ground. Born from a conversation about where the need existed and how to create impact, each organisation has come to the table to pool its different strengths, resources, assets, and capacity to create a national-scale material aid program that supports those facing homelessness. SleepSafe was designed to collaborate with StreetSmart and Sheridan, so both have a role and multiple touchpoints throughout the program.

While Sheridan store staff are tireless advocates for SleepSafe, generating genuine connections and generous donations from customers at each of the 90+ Sheridan stores, both organisations champion the initiative online and across their social media audiences to raise funds for sleep kits.

This project truly deserves recognition for its holistic approach to supporting those in need. It goes beyond providing essentials like sheets and towels, working to address the root causes of homelessness through partnerships with local organisations. The scale and impact of the program, reaching over 100,000 people to date, is a testament to the effectiveness and importance of this collaboration.

To find out more about StreetSmart Australia, visit streetsmartaustralia.org