About Social Justice Award

Since 1996 the Mercy Foundation has recognised an individual, group or organisation with a clearly notable record of work for change in social and cultural structures that impoverish and disempower people.

The Mercy Foundation Social Justice Award was established by the Mercy Foundation in 1996 to mark the United Nations International Year for the Eradication of Poverty.

The focus of the award at present is on individuals, groups or organisations that have made a major contribution to addressing homelessness in Australia. As a result of such contributions to addressing homelessness, the Mercy Foundation confirms that these are also significant contributions to social justice in Australia.

Note that in awarding this prize, the Mercy Foundation Board takes into account activities which are currently underway or have been completed within the previous 5 years.

Through this Award, the Mercy Foundation wishes to affirm and promote:

• The important goal of aiming to end homelessness in Australia.
• The importance of work which is aimed at changing the things that cause people in our society to be homeless.
• The importance of doing this work in a way which demonstrates an attitude of fundamental respect for all people.
• Working to develop increased permanent supportive housing options.

• Implementing programs which prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless.

• Advocacy activities - structures and systems which contribute to homelessness. Eg. inadequate low cost housing; poverty, domestic violence, mental health systems.

The winner of the 2012/13 Social Justice Award to be publicly announced in February 2013.

Winner of the Mercy Foundation's 2011 Social Justice Award

Congratulations to MICAH PROJECTS Queensland, recipients of the Mercy Foundation's 2011 Social Justice Award. The award was given in recognition of the outstanding contribution Micah Projects makes to ending homelessness.

In June last year, Micah Projects launched the 50 Lives 50 Homes campaign. Micah Projects was the first NGO to coordinate Registry Week, where they interviewed people sleeping rough in the inner city of Brisbane. Using the Vulnerability Index, the information they collected was used to produce a register of the most vulnerable people sleeping rough in Brisbane. They have exceeded their initial targets of housing 50 vulnerable people, with nearly 90 people housed as a result of this campaign.

During the Queensland flood disaster earlier this year, the team worked tirelessly to ensure homeless and marginally housed people were provided with emergency housing, food and support.

Micah Projects is leading the implementation of the Common Ground initiative in Brisbane, due to open in June 2012.

The mission of Micah Projects is to respond to people experiencing poverty, injustice and social isolation so that they may experience inclusion, economic well-being, justice and connection within their community of choice. Congratulations to Karyn Walsh, Micah Projects Coordinator and her team on their outstanding contribution to ending homelessness.