What We've Learned About Ending Homelessness 

At Micah Projects, we know that ending homelessness isn't about one service or one solution. It takes housing, healthcare, community, evidence, and partnerships working together to help people move from crisis to stability and then thrive. 

For more than 30 years, we've worked alongside people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity across Brisbane. These are some of the ideas that continue to guide our work, and the evidence that spurs us forward.   

Every person needs a safe place to call home  

A home provides far more than shelter. It's the foundation for safety, health, wellbeing, connection and opportunity. Without a stable home, every other challenge becomes harder to navigate. Having a home changes everything; it's a foundation for safety, health and wellbeing, social connection, job opportunities, access to services and stable family life.

Homelessness doesn't have one cause  

People experience homelessness for many different reasons. Domestic and family violence, rising housing costs, financial hardship, health issues and a shortage of affordable housing can all contribute. There is rarely one single event that causes homelessness, and there is rarely one simple solution.  

That's why our response is flexible, person-centred and built around each person's circumstances.

Housing is the foundation, not a reward  

Housing First recognises that people don't need to solve every challenge before they have a home. A safe, stable home creates the foundation people need to focus on a better future.   

It's a practical, evidence-based approach that recognises housing as the starting point for recovery, not the end point.  

Every person's journey is different  

No two experiences of homelessness are the same. Some people need short-term assistance after an unexpected crisis. Others need longer-term support because of complex health, disability or trauma-related challenges.  

Our role is to walk alongside people, while they heal, recover and rebuild, connecting them with the support that's right for them when they need it. We believe in dignity, inclusion and knowing people by name. 

Health and housing are deeply connected  

Without stable housing, maintaining physical and mental health becomes significantly more difficult. Experiencing homelessness also makes it harder to rest safely, recover from illness, store medications correctly, and get to medical appointments. Poor health can also make it harder to secure and sustain housing.   

Bringing together housing, healthcare and community support helps people stay well, maintain tenancies and build stronger futures.  

Crisis support matters on the road to stability  

Crisis accommodation provides immediate safety when someone has nowhere safe to stay. It's a necessary temporary roof while we work towards finding a safe and stable home.   

Last year, Micah Projects brokered more than 78,000 nights of crisis accommodation while continuing to help people move into long-term housing.   

Supportive housing shows what's possible  

Supportive housing combines permanent, affordable housing with on-site health, wellbeing and community support.  

It's one of the strongest examples of Housing First in practice because it recognises that stable housing and coordinated support work together to help people sustain their tenancy and thrive.  

Micah Projects partnered with Common Ground Queensland to establish Brisbane Common Ground in South Brisbane in 2012. Together with our partners, we are opening a new families supportive housing site in South Brisbane this year.   

Communities are part of the solution  

Ending homelessness takes a community effort that reaches beyond any one organisation. We work alongside government, housing providers, healthcare organisations, community partners and people with lived experience because lasting change happens when communities work together.  

Collective action helps ensure homelessness becomes rare, brief and non-recurring.  

Evidence matters  

Housing First works. We've seen this approach have an incredible impact in communities across the globe. Research, local data and lived experience continue to show that stable housing improves health, strengthens communities and reduces chronic homelessness.  

We use evidence to guide our practice, measure our impact and improve the support we provide.  

Ending homelessness is possible  

Behind every statistic is a person who has faced complex and destabilising challenges and then reached out for support as they solve them.   

We've seen what's possible when housing, health and support come together. People can build on their strengths when they have stronger ground.