Homelessness : A Nod to Home

Recent studies from the Centre for Social Impact have shown that on any given night in Western Australia, approximately 10,000 people are homeless. There are many great initiatives out there that provide comfort for those living rough, but it will never end homelessness.

Though it doesn’t necessarily address the root causes, employment focuses on breaking the cycles by reducing the duration of homelessness, support the management of mental health conditions, drug and alcohol addiction, and social exclusion.

However, employment isn’t just the financial stability. It’s the empowerment, the feeling of self-worth, and independence. It’s the freedom to live, and most importantly, the ability to maintain a stable home.

Katie Liew from The Underground Collaborative is not only focused on long-term and sustainable solutions, achieved through providing employment, but also the undeniable need for housing. Her passion is to empower the community to collectively be leaders of change, but also collaborating with other organisations, companies, government, and individuals, to address our greater societal issues, in working together to help end homelessness.

Katie Liew is a CPA where she completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Curtin University, and spent 8 years in the mining and resources industry as a management accountant.

She is passionate about international aid and social impact, and now focuses her time volunteering, and starting up her social enterprise, The Underground Collaborative, which exists to provide employment and housing solutions for the homeless, at-risk and disadvantaged.

She was recently recognised as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow for her passion and dedication to The Underground Collaborative, and hopes to honour the award in encouraging as much social good in the community as possible.

More information: www.theunderground.org.au