How you can make a difference to the one in 200 Australians homeless tonight
SHOCKED, saddened at the sight of a homeless person? One in 200 Australians are without a roof and just $15 can make a massive difference.
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THIS Christmas, you can be the difference between someone sleeping rough, or finding a bed.
One in 200 Australians today are either homeless, or at risk of homelessness.
And for many of those included in that terrifying statistic, the one thing we all take for granted — our smartphones — can be their lifeline.
Almost 80 per cent of all people experiencing homelessness have a smartphone. But when you haven’t got a home to go to, charging that phone can be problematic.
That’s where you can help.
Ask Izzy is a world-first mobile phone app which connects those at risk to local services which can offer support from a bed to sleep, a shower, a meal, counselling, legal advice, employment services and more.
For just $15 you can gift someone in need an Ask Izzy power card which will charge their phone for four hours — a small price to pay for what can make a world of difference for someone over the Christmas period.
Ask Izzy was developed by Melbourne not-for-profit Infoxchange in partnership with News Corp Australia, Google and REA Group.
Having been co-designed by those who have experienced homelessness the app is free, location based and anonymous.
Vicky Vacondios, a consumer advocate with the Council to Homeless Persons was once homeless herself. And she said Ask Izzy was “a saviour” for the people she helped.
“The fact it is a one-stop shop destination for people to be able to find the appropriate services … I think that’s one of the brightest ideas someone has come up with,” Ms Vacondios said.
For Ms Vacondios, escaping a violent partner was how she found herself and her children homeless. But there are a multitude of different reasons people find themselves without a place to go.
From escaping a violent family home, to students unable to make the rent to someone in the midst of a relationship breakdown it’s not hard to see why Ask Izzy has a sustained 1000 searches a week from people looking for support.
• For more information visit www.facebook.com.au/askizzyau
• To donate an Ask Izzy power card visit westpac.com.au/askizzy
Originally published as How you can make a difference to the one in 200 Australians homeless tonight