New partnership to address emergency shelter needs

In times of crisis, such as floods and fires, one of the most pressing needs is the provision of emergency shelter for those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.

Recognising this critical need, a new partnership between Rapid Response Housing, Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Rotary aims to ensure that communities across Australia have access to quick and reliable emergency housing solutions during natural disasters, conflicts, homelessness and instances of domestic violence.

Director of Rapid Response Housing Wayne Loane highlighted the impact of the collaboration.

“This partnership with RAWCS is set to be a game-changer, utilising Rotary’s vast network of 30,000 volunteers across 1,100 locations in Australia. For over 100 years, Rotary has been synonymous with helping those in need. RAWCS will manage this initiative, leveraging its Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status to ensure that all donations over $2 are tax-deductible.”

Wayne further emphasised the importance of prompt action.

“Quickly deploying emergency housing can dramatically improve the situation for people affected by disasters. Rotary’s deep-rooted presence in local communities, along with their connections to businesses and government, makes them ideally positioned to identify and respond to areas in need. Our goal is to be proactive by having multiple shelters ready and funded before a disaster strikes, thus avoiding delays that cause additional suffering.”

The effectiveness of this approach has already been demonstrated. Working with the Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond, Rapid Response Housing provided more than 60 shelters to residents affected by the 2022 floods across five local government areas in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.
These shelters allowed residents to stay on their property, oversee repairs, care for pets and begin the process of returning to normal life.

“The ability to remain on their land during repairs has been described as life-changing by those who have used the shelters,” Wayne said. “Keeping families together during crises significantly improves their mental health and well-being, as it allows them to stay close to their schools, workplaces and pets.”
PDG Merv Williams, RAWCS National Manager Projects & Volunteers, noted the increasing need for emergency shelters due to the growing impact of bushfires and floods.

“Feedback from residents in the Northern Rivers has been overwhelmingly positive. These shelters can be set up within minutes, without the need for a tradesperson, and can be placed on personal land, community areas or any level surface. Their design focuses on security, privacy, ease of transport and
simple setup.

“Through our extensive network of Rotary clubs, we plan to mobilise support from the public and businesses to raise funds for the pre-purchase of these shelters, ensuring they are ready to be deployed wherever needed. Our nationwide team of Rotarians will be on hand to assist with the transport, storage and installation of these shelters.”

For more information and to support the Rapid Response Housing campaign, visit directory.rawcs.com.au/37-2023-24 or www.rapidresponsehousing.com.au.