SA homelessness initiatives receive international recognition from UN-backed World Habitat Awards
The South Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (SAAEH) is proud to announce that the Advance to Zero (AtoZ) initiative has been awarded a prestigious World Habitat Award, presented annually in partnership with UN-Habitat. This international recognition highlights the transformative work being done across Australia – including two communities in South Australia – to end homelessness, starting with rough sleeping.
The Adelaide Zero Project – the first AtoZ initiative in Australia to commit to achieving functional zero rough sleeping homelessness – and the recently launched Port Adelaide Enfield Zero Project are the two initiatives in SA that have been recognised as part of this global award.
The World Habitat Awards celebrate innovative, sustainable housing solutions that improve lives globally. The AtoZ initiative was selected as one of nine winners out of 111 applicants across 55 countries, showcasing its impact and potential.
AAEH CEO David Pearson expressed gratitude for the award, saying:
“Winning a World Habitat Award is an incredible honour for the Advance to Zero movement. It shines a global spotlight on our efforts to end homelessness, starting with rough sleeping. This recognition will inspire hope, encourage the local communities doing this hard work and reinforce that homelessness can be ended in Australia.
“We hope this award also leads to greater investment from all levels of government to support the collaborative Housing First approach that Advance to Zero represents and to fund the permanent supportive housing that we know is essential to ending homelessness.
“In South Australia, we have seen significant investment through the development of the SA Government’s Housing Roadmap, but a greater focus on the housing and support needs of the most vulnerable will be needed if we are to make rough sleeping homelessness rare, brief and once-off in South Australia.”
“This recognition is a significant vote of confidence in the community-driven work happening here in South Australia. We hope it serves as a clarion call for all levels of government – state and local – and agencies across housing, human services, health and more to redouble their efforts in supporting this vital work.”
South Australian Minister for Human Services, Nat Cook MP, said:
“This international recognition for Advance to Zero is a credit to all hardworking staff dedicated to helping some of the most vulnerable South Australians.
“The work they are doing is making a real difference in people’s lives and I’m pleased to be part of a government that is working alongside such dedicated people to reduce homelessness.”
Spokespeople from key SA based AtoZ communities also shared their reflections on the award:
Lauren Martin, on behalf of the Adelaide Zero Project said:
“We are proud recipients of the World Habitat Award and humbled to be recognised alongside other innovative and life-changing global initiatives. The Advance to Zero movement proves that place-based and community-led initiatives can have real impacts on the lives of those most impacted by structural and systemic inequality.”
Orla Matthews, on behalf of the Port Adelaide Enfield Zero Project said:
“The World Habitat Award symbolises what is possible when we take evidence-informed, data-led and community-driven responses to ending homelessness. We are humbled to be a part of the Zero movement on a local, national and international scale and to align with the collective ambition to end homelessness that aims to ensure that those we support have access to homes and communities in which they can thrive.”
David Ireland, Director of World Habitat, said:
“AtoZ shows it’s possible to adapt a great methodology for eradicating homelessness to a new context. It proves that communities are best placed to drive local, incremental solutions to end homelessness, they just need the tools to build effective data-driven approaches and the right support from government.”