Mosman real estate agent providing shelter to the homeless

22 May 2018

Mosman agent providing shelter to the homeless

As a real estate Geoff Grist is in the business of housing people so it’s ironic how much he has done for the homeless.

The Mosman local has raised more than $20,000 for national charity Backpack Bed for Homeless who distribute their portable shelter to street sleeping homeless. That figure amounts to more than 200 Backpack Beds for people living on the streets, an amazing effort from a man deeply passionate about giving to those less fortunate.

Selling some of the richest property imaginable, Grist kindly donates a Backpack Bed on behalf of his clients regardless of if he sells their home or not, including after meeting for appraisals.

“We sell homes on a daily basis so it is all about helping those without a home,” Grist of Richardson & Wrench Mosman said. “Selling real estate can sometimes even cause someone not to have a home, so I as an industry we should do more to help those without a home."

“A few people from the real estate industry have got on board with helping a homeless charity, but, not as many as I would like.”

Grist praised the response from his valued clients. “People don’t I sponsor Backpack Bed as a way to thank them (clients) even if we don’t sell their home,” he said.

“I think people are really humbled when they see us donating a Backpack Bed on their behalf.”

According to a new ABS study, 49,200 people will sleep on Australian streets this year, up 17% from 2011.

Considering this alarming rise and with no government funding, Backpack Bed for Homeless rely solely on public donations having supplied 4,100 Backpack Beds in the last year alone.

Backpack Bed for Homeless founder and CEO Tony Clark praised Grist for his ongoing support stretching seven years

“The fact Geoff is donating a Backpack Bed regardless of if he sells a home or not is a shining example of his generosity which is helping to tackle the street sleeping homeless epidemic in Sydney,” he said

“His efforts have given hundreds of people shelter and made a huge difference to their quality of life.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Anthony Brand TV News & Communications for Backpack Bed for P.(07) 3286 983 M. 0435 504 87 E. [email protected] Facebook:       Facebook.com/BackpackBedForHomelessAustralia Twitter: @BB4Homeless Backpack Bed for Homeless

image download:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7mc1rd9bmkhjui3/AAC_il_ckh9X_uR96Roa1PUEa?dl=0

National charity Backpack Bed for Homeless provides emergency Backpack Beds to homeless people sleeping on the street without shelter.

ABOUT BACKPACK BED FOR HOMELESS

www.BackpackBed.org

Backpack Bed for Homeless is a national Australian charity with status.

Designed and produce their lifesaving Backpack Bed.

  Over 25,000 Backpack Beds have been distributed to homeless without shelter.

Received Australia’s highest - the Australian Human Rights Award for Best Community Organisation.

49,200 Australians will sleep on the streets this year.

The Backpack Bed program has now spread to the USA, New Zealand, UK, Germany, Canada, Spain and South Africa.

to quality, the Backpack Bed is also sold to the public as a social enterprise.

The Backpack Bed has been awarded 7 international product design awards.

The Backpack Bed has been acquired by 4 international museums (Sydney, Paris, Italy Germany).

Founder Tony Clark and his wife Lisa Clark designed the Backpack Bed – which today is saving the lives of thousands of homeless across the world, while also single person camping and disaster material aid.

·         Despite international success - they receive no government funding.