Second Chance Programme

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU! 

Second Chance would like to congratulate Gillian Angliss and Emma Nicol from BGGS who were recently listed as one of 16 finalists in the OASIS Homeless Short Film competition.

The girls will donate their $1000 prize money to Second Chance.

We are proud of the girls’ achievement and grateful for their continued work through their school Second Chance committee.

Read about the girls achievement here and view their film here. 

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Where your money goes

WHEN you donate money to Second Chance to help homeless women in Brisbane, that’s exactly where the money goes.

Second Chance does not bankroll buildings or duplicate services or rent fancy office space. It pays no salaries, nor administration costs. Apart from compulsory insurance, every cent goes to the cause.

“It’s something we decided was important when we started,’’ says Second Chance co-founder Dale Spender. “Transparency and accountability remain just as important today.’’

This is in stark contrast to some charities working in Australia today, where more than 60% of total fundraising revenue is spent on administration costs. A recent media report reveals a Federal Government move to make Australia’s 60,000 charities more accountable, which could prompt big-spending not-for-profits to rein in their administration.

“Second Chance is a group of professional Queensland women working pro bono to raise money to assist women sleeping rough on Brisbane’s streets,’’ says Dale Spender. The committee’s collective expertise spans business, management, marketing, manufacturing, education, media and law. “Everyone donates their time and we personally absorb the administration costs.’’

“We wanted Second Chance donors – whether they give $10 or write a cheque for $50,000 – to know their money goes directly to assisting homeless women.’’

Founded by Dale Spender and Marjorie Morton a decade ago, Second Chance was started when the cause of homeless women in Brisbane was virtually unheard of. There were more than 400 beds for homeless men and about a dozen for women at a time when homeless women numbers were soaring yet hidden.

“We work hard to identify the most successful models working and fund them. That means emergency beds for women off the street; temporary safe havens in shelters for abused women and children; permanent low-cost accommodation solutions; and furniture packages for women moving off the street with nothing.’’

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Queensland had 24,569 who were identified as being homeless during the last census count. Per head of population Queensland has the second highest rate of homeless after Northern Territory. The Queensland average was 70 homeless people per 10,000 people compared with the National average of 53 homeless people per 10,000 people (ABS, 2004).

 2006 Census Homelessness Figures

Of 105,000 homeless people in Australia on census night in 2006:

• 56% were Male.
• 21% were between the age of 12-18.
• 12% were under the age of 12.
• 23% were staying in boarding houses.
• 45% were staying with friends and relatives.
• 16% were sleeping rough.
• 14% were staying in accommodation provided by the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP).

 Which means 44% were women.

You can make a donation by downloading the Second Chance donation slip.

You can tell others about the work we do for homeless women.

But most importantly you can raise money for homeless women.