From luxury to lasting change: The story behind a new push to tackle homelessness

Akira Galvin knows how to capture people’s attention, having helped showcase luxury homes and properties right across the country, but now she wants to shine a light on Australia’s homelessness crisis.

More than 122,000 Australians experience homelessness on any given night, according to Census 2021 figures.

It’s a key reason why Ms Galvin, the head of property and place at independent agency Enigma, wants to do more to increase awareness about homelessness in Australia, and even raise money to help those organisations working on the frontline.

Ms Galvin has partnered with A Home for All Foundation, an industry-led organisation aiming to drive awareness, raise funds and build long-term change for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

“I am very passionate about property, and I love the built form and what having a place to call home can do for its society,” Ms Galvin said.

“It’s also quite special to be part of somebody’s biggest decision in life when it comes to buying a home for the first time.

“But the flipside is that many Australians won’t be able to buy a house buy in their lifetime – it’s especially hard in Sydney right now if you’re a 25-year-old trying to pay rent and save for a mortgage.

“It’s a privilege to be able to realise your home ownership dream and help others achieve that too; but we’re ever mindful not everybody can.”

It was while on a property study/work trip to India earlier this year that proved an eye-opening experience for Ms Galvin and Enigma.

 “It was humbling, and made me feel very lucky to live in Australia and walk into a safe office every day with clean work, food and have a healthy team around me,” Ms Galvin said.

“It was this experience that really made me think ‘what else can we do with this sort of insight.’ Partnering with A Home for all Foundation made sense because it’s a means of us giving back and doing our bit for homelessness. It’s a crisis that’s everybody’s problem.”

Having worked at the not-for-profit Benevolent Society in the past has also helped Ms Galvin see the tough side of home ownership and the reality of homelessness.  

“It only takes one life event to be a step away from homelessness becoming a reality,” she said.

“You only need a few things to go wrong or a circumstance to change for homelessness to be a possibility, it’s a frightening thought.

“Six percent of the homelessness you see are those sleeping rough on the streets; the rest is hidden.”

Many were couch surfing, living in cars or moving from one temporary accommodation to the next, with no guarantee of security. 

It means one in 10 Australians were at-risk of experiencing homelessness – and the number has only been growing.

“We want to be a positive driving force in the property space,” Ms Galvin said.

“Property for us is about getting a roof over your head – it’s not just about six-star ratings and top tier appliances within them.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe and everyone deserves to have a home. If we can bring awareness to and help drive that conversation around what that means and how people can make better financial decisions and take care of one another, then we’re doing something good.”

Ms Galvin said understanding homelessness came down to education. Enigma Agency has worked closely with Newcastle University to take on their graduates to help train them before they start working in the field.

Ms Galvin has also become a board member at Women with Numbers.

“I feel very strongly about making sure that young girls looking to buy property one day are trained and have access to things like men do,” she said.

“It’s a fiscal skill that we don’t spend enough time educating younger people about, especially women. I have a strong interest in this area, and to make sure young girls don’t find themselves in tough times.

“They can learn about how to secure a home and understand the importance of not living beyond their means.”

In October, the property industry is invited to take part in ‘A Night Without Home’ to help raise awareness and funds to help end homelessness. All funds raised will go to homelessness organisations via A Home for All Foundation.

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