Homeless Connect
Homeless Connect is a one-day event which provides free services to people experiencing homelessness, or those at risk of homelessness.
The next event will be held on Thursday 18 May 2023 at Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills (corner of Alexandria Street and Gregory Terrace).
The project has helped more than 19,870 people and is part of Brisbane City Council's commitment to improve quality of life for all residents.
Volunteer at Homeless Connect
This event is run completely by volunteers and relies heavily on donations from schools, businesses and residents of Brisbane.
Homeless Connect events provide the following free services to some of our most vulnerable residents:
- access to medical and allied health care professionals, including doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, audiologists and massage therapists
- haircuts by barbers and hairdressers
- housing, employment and community support
- immunisation delivered by Council's immunisation team
- personal grooming items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant
- clothing, including shoes
- non-perishable food items
- breakfast, lunch and live entertainment.
You can register your interest to volunteer for this event by visiting the Volunteering Queensland website.
Donate to Homeless Connect
The next donation drive will run from 27 March to 5 May 2023. You can donate by taking non-perishable food and toiletries to your local ward office or local Council library.
Please note: Council cannot accept clothing donations for this event, please take clothing donations to your local charity shop.
The most needed items
- canned tuna and salmon
- canned soup and vegetables
- toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant
- rice and pasta
- shaving blades and cream
- body wash, shampoo and conditioner
- coffee and tea
- cereal and muesli bars
- long-life milk
Promotional posters and downloads
To help you to organise a donation drive and to spread the word, print or download the following free resources.
Social media tiles to download and share via your business or personal social media accounts:
- I donated to Homeless Connect (JPG - 309kb)
- We donated to Homeless Connect (JPG - 364kb)
- I’m volunteering at Homeless Connect (JPG - 345kb)
- Join us by volunteering at Homeless Connect (JPG - 330kb)
History of Homeless Connect
Council has held 26 Homeless Connect events since the first event in November 2006. The last event was held on Thursday 19 May 2022.
A summary of the May 2022 event:
| Detail | Number |
|---|---|
|
Guests
|
632
|
|
Volunteers
|
281
|
|
Meals
|
1402
|
|
Health checks
|
272 health consultations by medical and allied health care professionals
|
|
Service providers
|
3208 visits to 55 service providers
|
|
Donations
|
28 pallets of food and toiletries
13 pallets of clothes 5 pallets of shoes |
Homeless Connect videos
Watch interviews and testimonials from previous Homeless Connect events below. You can watch these videos and other videos on Council's YouTube channel.
More information
For more information about Council initiatives that provide support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, visit housing and homelessness.