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Vinnies WA launches Winter Appeal as homelessness surges across the State
Tonight, thousands of Western Australians; including children; will face the freezing cold without a safe place to sleep. As the 2025 Winter Appeal launches today, Vinnies WA is calling on the public to donate urgently and help break the growing cycle of homelessness.
In February 2024, 1,889 people were recorded as experiencing homelessness across Perth, Geraldton, Bunbury, Mandurah and Rockingham, up from 1,373 just two years earlier. Alarmingly, over half were sleeping rough. Even more concerning is the rise of “working homelessness”, with nearly 1,900 employed Western Australians seeking support from homelessness services in the past year alone. Having a job is no longer enough to guarantee a roof over your head.
Families like young sisters Abigail and Isabella* are among those hit hardest. Fleeing a violent home with their mother, they spent years living in unsafe shelters, caravans, and even a car. Their story is one of many showing how homelessness deeply affects children’s education, mental health, and sense of safety.
Vinnies volunteers are reporting unprecedented demand across WA. “We’re seeing people we’ve never seen before,” said Christine*, a Vinnies member. “That’s why community support is so critical right now.”
By donating to the Winter Appeal, you’ll help provide urgent relief (like warm clothing, food, and emergency accommodation) and long-term support to help people stabilise their lives and move forward with dignity.
“This winter, your kindness could mean the difference between someone finding shelter or being left out in the cold,” said Vinnies WA CEO Susan Rooney. “Together, we can change lives and break the cycle of homelessness.”
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
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