Sitting down with some graduates from Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Pete discussed some of the big aspects about 300 Blankets and current issues facing people experiencing homelessness.
Q. Could you give us a brief outline of 300 Blankets as an organisation?
A. It’s a small grassroots charity operating in Melbourne since 2012, running two programs to support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. We have the Outreach Program which started in 2015. This program involves walking through the Melbourne CBD twice a week, checking up on people sleeping rough through conversation and providing material aid. We also have the Soul Kitchen program which started in 2018 and involves a threecourse dinner provided every Sunday night in Braybrook. Both programs, and the organisation as a whole, are 100% volunteer-run and managed.
Q. Could you provide some more detail about who you support and what that looks like?
A. The people we engage with through the Outreach Program are typically experiencing what’s called primary homelessness – those who don’t have accommodation. Some people do have access to accommodation, but it’s not safe. Others avoid emergency support services due to poor past experiences and a desire for more consistent or dignified options. Predominantly, we encounter men, which reflects how the system is designed. It prioritises providing accommodation for young people, then women and children, and then, much further down the line, men over 35. That’s why, when it comes to rough sleeping, you predominantly see men. Importantly, these are often the people most disconnected from community and society, in part due to negative perceptions around homelessness. Our Outreach Program team provides human connection conversation and warmth – even on the busy streets of Melbourne. We try to create a safe space, even in public, so people feel acknowledged.
The Soul Kitchen program supports a broader cross-section of the community. We see people from all over the west – young families, elderly individuals, and people from all cultural backgrounds – who are homeless, at risk, doing it tough, or socially isolated. We aim to build a warm, safe space where people can connect, share a meal, and build friendships.
Q. Is there a specific or current need you’re seeing in the community at the moment?
A. Stability of accommodation. If you don’t have it, getting it is virtually impossible without financial means. The system just doesn’t work for people who can’t buy their way in. We often hear about the “cost of living crisis,” but it’s really about affordability. That’s the root issue. Beyond that, many of the people we support have experienced trauma – whether in youth or adulthood, through family violence or other life events. The causes and drivers of homelessness haven’t changed. Family breakdowns, incarceration, and lack of post-release support from the justice system are all structural problems that leave people without stable footing.
Q. How can material donations make a difference on the ground?
A. What we do is always informed by listening to the people we support. We don’t just go out and say, “here’s a jumper, here’s a blanket”. We ask what people need. At Soul Kitchen, we do an annual feedback survey asking guests what they want more or less of, what’s working and what’s not. One thing people often lose in this space is the ability to choose. We’re very deliberate about restoring that sense of agency. For example, last Sunday at Soul Kitchen, we offered blankets during dinner. Volunteers went table to table and asked, “would you like one?”. Some guests said no – they already had one, or it didn’t suit where they were sleeping. That act of choice matters. And often, it’s a driver for conversation. Talking about a blanket might lead to a broader chat about someone’s situation, which then leads to us understanding how else we can support them. That’s the role that material donations play in our model.
Q. Do you have a particular story or example of impact that’s stayed with you?
A. Yes, I’ve actually got one from today. It’s rare, and we were all pretty excited. There was a man we’d known for about a year and a half – he was sleeping rough in the CBD. He was from overseas and had lost his ID, which made everything harder. Eventually, after a couple of years on a waitlist, he got accommodation. But he found it really hard to adjust. I remember him saying to us, “I’m not used to the quiet of a room – I need the noise of the city to sleep”. Things you wouldn’t expect. Yesterday, we got an email from him saying, “I’m not sure if you remember me, but I made it back to my home country and I’m living my best life now. I just wanted to say thank you”. That kind of feedback is rare. We don’t always get to see what impact we had, especially with people who’ve been through that much trauma. So that one meant a lot.
Q. What’s something you wish more people understood about homelessness?
A. That it’s not their fault. There’s a misconception that people choose to be homeless. But often, people are avoiding options that are dangerous or undignified. It’s the lesser of two evils. The stereotypes still exist, even though I’ve seen progress – especially in how young people and schools talk about these issues. But at the end of the day, many people experiencing homelessness are just trying to survive the best way they know how, often with no support.
Q. What are some other ways people can get involved beyond donating to our drive?
A. The most valuable contribution people can make is donating their time. That doesn’t have to be with us – just find a cause you’re passionate about. It could be frontline volunteering or offering your professional skills to a charity. Think about what you can offer beyond dollars. Technical expertise and operational support are critical to organisations like ours. Spreading awareness also helps because when more people talk about these issues, it breaks down stigma and increases pressure for real change. We often hear people say, “I want to help, but I don’t know how”. Part of our job is to show them the path – to make it easier to take that first step. Not every act has to be big. Just saying hello to someone sleeping rough or asking if you can grab them something from the shop – that’s powerful. It’s human and anyone can do it.
–
Corrs Chambers Westgarth are currently running a Winter material aid drive for 300 Blankets. If you or your organisation would like to learn more about 300 Blankets and how you can assist, get in Contact!
