On My Feet – a Homelessness Week 2024 Grant Recipient Story

With the support of Lotterywest funding this year Shelter WA are delighted to be able to offer homelessness sector members the opportunity to apply for funding for an event, project or initiative as part of Homelessness Week.

We are well into the second round of the Shelter WA Homelessness Week 2024 Grant Program and inspired by the applications that have been received and the enthusiasm shown by applicants so far.

One of the organisations awarded a grant following their round one application was On My Feet. We connected with CEO Kathleen Mc Quaide and asked her to share a little about why they decided to apply and what the grant will fund.

Here is what Kathleen had to share in response to the questions we asked;

“1. Why did you decide to submit an application for the Shelter WA Homelessness Week 2024 Grant Program?

In a meeting with CEO, Kath Snell, she told me about the grants that were available and having heard about On My Feet’s work – suggested we might like to apply. With Shelter WA being the peak body working to advocate solutions to homelessness in WA – I felt it would be a real honour to receive such a grant and to showcase our impactful On My Feet work during Homelessness Week 2024.

2. How did you decide what your grant application should focus on?

On My Feet is really excited to have recently launched its first Women’s Only chapter in conjunction with the Salvation Army’s Graceville earlier this year. Many women who have suffered FDV, feel safer in the company of women, and have a real need to build their confidence, self-esteem and self-worth and self-belief. So, I thought that a project, focused purely on helping 10 women reach a goal of the Women’s Classic 10km race in September, would be such a rewarding and empowering experience.

3. What is your ultimate outcome for your project?

We want to show vulnerable women (and in fact all vulnerable people), the power of exercise, a beautiful community and some empowering workshops to help them get back on their feet. Aside from crossing the finish line and getting the medal, and hearing remarkable stories from the women, we are also measuring certain physical and psychological variables and we’re hoping to show how an 8-week program and change these variables positively. The psychological variables include level of depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness. We are also measuring personal wellbeing, fitness, blood pressure and body mass index. The skills they attain and the strengths they develop are transferable and their next medal might be the confidence to apply for a job and to go for an interview……and so their lives can take a different trajectory.

4. The theme of Homelessness Week 2024 is “Homelessness Action Now,” what does this theme mean to you?

The theme couldn’t be better aligned to what we do at On My Feet. Sitting around doing nothing or doing the same thing- day in and day out – expecting a different result, won’t achieve anything.

Taking that first step to be active, especially when you are feeling despondent, hopeless and negative shows determination and courage and the will to quite literally TAKE ACTION.

Taking action NOW – means changing things up.

Many steps later, with significantly improved mental health, a wonderful support network, caring friends, improved health, achievements under the belt – that despondency, hopelessness and negativity have turned into feeling empowered, hopeful and positive. This makes the challenges of life far easier to navigate, whether it be finding some type of employment to help pay a rental, or to even apply for transitional housing. It’s also about taking back some control.”