Homelessness Week 2026: Supporting Our Community
On Wednesday, 5 August, we welcomed local frontline organisations to our Albion Park office for a special community event held during Homelessness Week 2026.
The event marked the handover of 100 emergency Backpack Beds to three Illawarra organisations working directly with people experiencing homelessness:
- Wollongong Homeless Hub
- St Vincent de Paul Society Coniston
- Kind Hearts Illawarra
The donation forms part of our partnership with Backpack Bed for Homeless, which began in July 2025. Through this initiative, One Agency Elite Property Group donates one Backpack Bed for every property sold.
The event was an opportunity to bring our team together with the local organisations delivering vital support throughout the Illawarra and to recognise the growing need for practical assistance for people sleeping rough.
Our Directors, Matthew Crockett and Adam Martin, were there to help welcome representatives from each organisation and acknowledge the important work they continue to do in our community.
Since the partnership began, $55,000 worth of Backpack Beds have been donated, helping provide emergency shelter, warmth and protection to people experiencing homelessness.
Matthew said the milestone was an important one, but the real impact was seeing the beds reach people who need them most.
“We’re proud to work alongside local organisations that understand where the need is greatest and can get these Backpack Beds directly into the hands of those who need them most.”
He said the initiative had also become something the entire One Agency Elite Property Group community could be proud of.
“Since launching the initiative in July 2025, every client who has bought or sold with us has helped make that possible, and we’re incredibly proud of the difference we’ve made together.”
Supporting Frontline Services Across the Illawarra
For the organisations receiving the Backpack Beds, the donation will provide immediate practical support to people sleeping rough across the region.
St Vincent de Paul Society Coniston Vinnies Van Coordinator Hineana Dando said the organisation had supported close to 7,000 people over the previous 12 months, with many sleeping rough.
She said the Backpack Beds would help provide shelter from the elements and keep people warm and dry, particularly during winter.
Wollongong Homeless Hub also regularly reaches people sleeping rough through its outreach patrols.
Kelly McGarrity from Wollongong Homeless Hub said some of the people they support are sleeping on blankets or directly on the cold ground, making the Backpack Beds an important source of immediate warmth, protection and dignity while longer-term housing solutions are pursued.
Kind Hearts Illawarra also received Backpack Beds as part of the handover, with Steph MacLeod highlighting the increasing number of people in the community struggling to access basic necessities.
She said the beds would provide people doing it tough with shelter, warmth and a greater sense of safety.
Homelessness Action Now
The event was held during Homelessness Week 2026, running from 3 to 9 August under the national theme Homelessness Action Now.
For our team, the event was another reminder that meaningful community support comes from working together.
By partnering with Backpack Bed for Homeless and the organisations working directly on the frontline, we can continue turning every property sale into practical support for someone experiencing homelessness.
We are incredibly grateful to Wollongong Homeless Hub, St Vincent de Paul Society Coniston and Kind Hearts Illawarra for joining us at our Albion Park office and, more importantly, for the work they continue to do every day for people across our community.