Brisbane can be the first Olympic host city to improve the plight of its homeless.
Matt Kratiuk, the Queensland Ambassador for Vinnies CEO Sleepout, said previous host cities had just moved homeless people away to hide the issue from Games visitors.
Mr Kratiuk, who was living on the streets as a 15-year-old and overcame a life of violence, crime and drugs to became successful business leader, said the relocations made lives worse for some of society’s most vulnerable people.
“(Other host cities) would give people an open one-way bus ticket and say, ‘go anywhere you like on us’,” he said.
“As well increasing the level of homelessness in other cities, it separated people from any support systems they had in place. It made their lives worse.”
Mr Kratiuk said there had not been an Olympics where the plight of the homeless had improved because of the event, but he was keen for Brisbane to change that.
“We have the opportunity to the first Olympic city in the world to make a positive impact on our homeless.”
Speaking at a PwC Queensland function to promote the CEO Sleepout on June 19, Mr Kratiuk said that impact would come from providing supported, long-term housing.
“This is the first step in ending homelessness. You can’t just put people into emergency accommodation. That is a short-term band-aid solution.
“There needs to be secure housing provided and from there you can add the wrap-around services which people need to get back on their feet.”
With more than 10,000 people sleeping rough in South-East Queensland on any given night, Mr Kratiuk urged policymakers to replicate Finland’s “Housing first” model.
He said the Scandinavian country started to address the issue 20 years ago and today had virtually eliminated homelessness.
“More than 25 percent of all new housing there is now social housing.”
Mr Kratiuk said through the policy partnerships between all levels of governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had reduced the reliance on short-term shelters, transforming them into affordable rented accommodation units.
“From 2008 to 2022, the number of individuals experiencing long-term homelessness in Finland decreased by 68 percent.”
He said while Brisbane had less than 10 years to achieve meaningful progress leading into the 2032 Games, much could be achieved with the correct mindset.
“We need to ensure all the infrastructure investment, such as athletes’ villages, has a social housing focus after the Games.”
He said Government should also leverage the expertise of many community groups, like The St Vincent de Paul Society, who have the experience, not only in providing housing, but also the support services needed to get people back on track.
To show policymakers what can be done, Mr Kratiuk is championing a “500 in 5 years” program which aims to build 500 homes over a five-year period with funds raised via the sleepout helping the cause.
The Chief Growth Officer at Brisbane-based national leasing advisory and commercial fit-out firm TACTIC, he has galvanised a team more than 160 of the city’s senior executives, which he calls the GOATS, to play their part by participating in the sleepout, which this year will be held at The Gabba.
“Every $140,000 we raise provides the equity stake for one of these homes to be built.”
Mr Kratuik said the GOATS goal for this year was to raise $1 million for the 500 homes project, with PwC Queensland Managing Partner Samantha Vidler joining the ranks in 2025.
Ms Vidler said she would join PwC directors Jarrod Jones and Kirrilly Kite, who took part in last year’s fundraiser, and other city leaders, in spending a night sleeping rough in the open, with a sheet of cardboard for a bed.
She said it was important that those, with the means, contributed to supporting some of the most vulnerable in the community.
“In such a prosperous country like Australia and city like Brisbane, we should be able to make meaningful progress for those who do not have a safe place to call home.”
Ms Vidler said Mr Kratiuk’s own story was a source of inspiration and one she wanted the PwC team to hear.
“Matt has overcome so much trauma and adversity and is now working to prevent others from enduring the hardship he has had to face.
“He shows that no one is a ‘lost cause’ and that by giving people the support they need, they can rebuild their lives.”
“It shows that anyone of us, through the uncertainties of life, can find ourselves in dire situations, which seem hopeless at the time.
“But if, as a community, we can show empathy and band together to provide the right support we can make a difference.”
The PwC Foundation have offered to match the fundraising efforts, up to $2000 each. To learn more about the Vinnies CEO sleepout and how to donate please click through to webpages that support Samantha Vidler, Jarrod Jones or Kirrilly Kite.
