Each year, Homelessness Week brings together communities, services, and advocates to increase understanding, strengthen public support, and contribute to the changes needed so everyone has a safe place to call home.
At Brisbane Youth Service, it is also when we invite our community to take part in Daggy Jumper Day.
What is Homelessness Week?
Homelessness Week is a national campaign led by Homelessness Australia. It aims to build community support and government commitment to end homelessness.
Throughout the week, organisations and communities:
- raise awareness of the impact of homelessness
- highlight practical, evidence-based solutions
- create opportunities for people to advocate for change.
It is also a time to bring the issue to the attention of decision-makers to shape the policies and investment needed to end homelessness.
Each year, Homelessness Week has a new theme, but the goal stays the same: to end homelessness in Australia.
When is Homelessness Week?
Homelessness Week is held each year during the first full week of August.In 2026, it runs from Monday 3 August to Sunday 9 August.
The timing highlights the increased challenges people can face without a safe and stable home during winter.
This year’s theme
The national theme for 2026 is Homelessness Action Now.
This theme reflects that the solutions to homelessness are well understood. They include access to safe housing and wraparound support to maintain it, income support, and early intervention. What is needed now is more investment and commitment across communities, services, and government.
Why Homelessness Week matters for young people
Homelessness Week helps shift how homelessness is understood: from something experienced by individuals, to something shaped by systems, access to resources, and collective responsibility.
Young people are among those most affected. People aged 12 to 24 make up around a quarter of Australia’s homeless population (2021 Census).
For young people, a safe and stable home is more than a roof overhead. It is the foundation for:
- safety and wellbeing
- connection to education, work, and community
- strong relationships
- future opportunities.
Without this foundation, daily life becomes harder. And the longer instability continues, the harder it is to rebuild.
Homelessness Week creates space to:
- build understanding of youth homelessness and its causes
- highlight the importance of early support and prevention
- bring communities together around solutions
- strengthen the call for change at every level of government.
It reinforces that youth homelessness can be prevented, and ultimately ended, when the right supports and investment are in place.
How can you get involved in Homelessness Week?
Across Australia, people take part by:
- attending or hosting events
- learning more about homelessness
- starting conversations in their communities
- advocating for solutions, including engaging with local representatives
- supporting local organisations and services
Taking part helps build collective influence. This strengthens community support and helps drive the policy changes needed to end homelessness.
Get involved in Brisbane: Daggy Jumper Day
Brisbane Youth Service’s Daggy Jumper Day is a simple and meaningful way to take part in Homelessness Week.
Held every year during the week (Wednesday 5 August in 2026), it brings together schools, workplaces, and communities to:
- spark conversations about youth homelessness
- raise funds to support young people
- show visible, collective support.
Daggy Jumper Day makes it easy to get involved. Funds raised strengthen the support systems that help young people to feel safe, connected, and able to build their futures.
A shared commitment
Homelessness Week is a reminder that ending homelessness is possible. It relies on coordinated effort across communities, services, and government.
Each action, whether through learning, advocacy, or support, helps build momentum for lasting change.
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Homelessness Week FAQ
When is Homelessness Week 2026?
Homelessness Week 2026 runs from Monday 3 August to Sunday 9 August. It is held during the first full week of August every year.
What is the theme for Homelessness Week 2026?
The national theme for 2026 is Homelessness Action Now. It reflects that the solutions to homelessness are known, and that what is needed now is investment and commitment.
Who runs Homelessness Week?
Homelessness Week is coordinated nationally by Homelessness Australia, the national peak body for homelessness. Organisations and communities across the country take part with their own events and activities.
How can I take part in Brisbane?
Join Brisbane Youth Service’s Daggy Jumper Day on Wednesday 5 August 2026. Schools, workplaces, and community groups wear their daggiest jumpers to spark conversations and raise funds for young people experiencing homelessness.
