To assist in combating the widespread issues resulting from COVID-19, the City of Perth has launched a COVID-19 Quick Response Community Grants Program, aimed at supporting organisations working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus.
Through the COVID-19 Quick Response Grant program, the City will rapidly provide grant funding to community-led schemes, which identify or achieve small scale initiatives safely addressing issues arising due to the pandemic.
"Providing much-needed support for our most vulnerable people, the program is aimed at supporting the delivery of community and social initiatives within the City's neighbourhoods," Chair Commissioner Andrew Hammond said.
WA-based independent website Home Hub was the first not-for-profit organisation assisted through the Quick Response Community Grant Program.
Home Hub provides a matching service, connecting empty homes with ethical providers working with people who need access to safe and affordable homes.
Home Hub Founding Director Iain Shields said the Quick Response Community Grant program had enabled the organisation to work closer with the City of Perth community.
"We're aiming to make use of more than 500 empty homes and accommodation available in the City of Perth. We're using our matching service to connect those homes with social and community services that are working with people in need of a safe and affordable place to call home," he said.
"These are typically grandparents, parents, children, brothers and sisters, friends, work colleagues - people we know and people we live amongst in our day-to-day lives. These are everyday people like you and me that need a hand up, and not a hand out."
Community groups and organisations can apply for up to $15k for projects to be facilitated between now and September.
