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The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) has funded the purchase of a new, fully equipped off-road truck which will help the Salvation Army to deliver essential aid to those facing homelessness in Perth.
Funded by REIWA’s Community REInvest program, the new truck will be deployed by the Salvation Army’s Street Outreach team starting this weekend to deliver immediate aid to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
With this new addition replacing an old vehicle, the Salvation Army stated that the new truck comes fully equipped with “easy access to purpose-built shelving”, and an Esky and hot box for storing food and drinks.
The Salvation Army noted that the truck’s off-road capabilities will enable the outreach vehicle to deliver meals, hot drinks and essential items, such as clothing, toiletries, blankets, sleeping bags and first-aid supplies, to all areas.
The charity added that the vehicle will help the Salvation Army to reach more people in need and will provide opportunities to discuss ongoing support options.
As a result of this increased capacity, the charity’s Western Australian homelessness state manager, Kate Greenway, commented that “it’s more than just a vehicle – it’s a lifeline for those who are vulnerable.”
“It will allow us to engage with more people, meet their immediate needs, and help them on their path towards stability,” Greenway said.
Since the start of the Community REInvest program 10 years ago, REIWA has aided the Salvation Army through sponsorships, donations, and volunteering to become the charity’s largest corporate contributor to programs aiding those facing homelessness in Western Australia.
REIWA CEO, Cath Hart, shared it was a “privilege to support the Salvo’s work” and highlighted the new vehicle as a “great example of how we can, together, create meaningful change”.
“To date, we have donated over $1.6 million to the Salvos to assist them in the very important work they do to support those experiencing homelessness and/or family and domestic violence,” Hart said.
Greenway added that the Salvation Army’s work would be “far more limited” without the support of organisations such as REIWA, with the institute’s support enabling the charity to “provide more impactful, meaningful support to those in need”.
Notably, the vehicle also features artwork from artist Helen Latham, who previously faced homelessness and was supported by the Salvation Army to secure housing and employment.
Latham’s artwork was described as reflecting the artist’s previous experiences with homelessness and her personal journey from the darkness of that period to the hope she now feels.
While Latham acknowledged that it’s easy for people facing homelessness to “think the world is against you”, she explained that her artwork shows that “there is always hope; you just need to be patient and wait for brighter days”.
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