Dear Friends,

It is a disappointing fact that in Australia over 105,000 citizens are homeless each night.

The factors that contribute to homelessness are diverse; social, financial, medical, addiction to name a few.

Therefore the approach to decrease these statistics must be diverse as well.

However, despite the desire of the majority to contribute positively to aid those in need, there is reluctance to action. Conversations around dinner tables are flavoured with feelings of disempowerment and being overwhelmed by the magnitude and complexity of the issues. It is fair to say that we are paralysed by these feelings and as a result nothing is achieved by the majority and those who are doing something barely have enough resources to impact their direct neighbourhoods, in the current crisis situation.

With a simple initiative Heart for the Homeless has developed, the real estate industry now has a practical way that communities and industries can consistently deliver usable resources to organisations that assist the homeless with much needed items such as food, clothing and furniture.

On Monday 1st March 2010, Heart for the Homeless is launching the FIRST initiative targetted at the Real Estate Industry named the ‘Moving Cities Initiative’. The initiative seeks to reclaim the average 15-50 kilograms of non-perishable food items that would normally be thrown in the bin each time a person moves house. Agents that are registered with Heart for the Homeless would generate the food, clothing and furniture items by registering there tenants or owners moving home via their website. Our member charities will arrange collection with these residents to ensure minimal wastage and damage to the environment. The basic step-by-step procedure looks like this:

Step 1  Notification of resident moving home
Step 2  Agency/Resident to advise H4H of move
Step 3  H4H to co-ordinate the collection and distribution of resources
Step 4  H4H and Member Charities to distribute to those in benevolent need

Through leveraging a network of thousands of real estate agents, Heart for the Homeless hope to reclaim the hundreds of thousands of tons of food, clothing and furniture that could help resource local charities and service providers.

So please keep your eye out and get your office and Agency Pricipal behind this incredible and revolutionary concept.

See www.heartforthehomeless.org or email info@heartforthehomeless.org

Heart for the Homeless is ‘Moving cities from poverty to equality’.