The Michael Project, 2007-2010: New Perspectives and Possibilities for Homeless Men

On Census night 2006, almost 105,000 people were homeless in Australia, an increase of almost five per cent over the preceding five year period. In 2008, the Australian Government set out a national approach to reducing homelessness, with headline targets of halving overall homelessness and offering supported accommodation to all rough sleepers who need it by 2020, along with a range of sub-targets (Commonwealth of Australia, 2008). Mission Australia has been supporting people experiencing homelessness since the middle of the nineteenth century. As a major national not-for-profit agency, Mission Australia has long sought to develop innovative responses to emerging social issues. With the benefit of a philanthropic donation, Mission Australia developed an innovative service pilot project, the Michael Project (2007-2010), to work towards better outcomes with men experiencing homelessness in the Sydney metropolitan region.