About the Guest

Emma Young is the Chief Corporate Services Officer at Orange Sky, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing community connections and supporting people experiencing homelessness and hardship. With a background in accounting, Emma transitioned from a corporate career to full-time involvement in Orange Sky after initially volunteering. She now leads HR, safety, finance, data, insights, and tech operations. Emma's passion for community service and her commitment to fostering positive connections have been integral to Orange Sky's mission and growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Orange Sky was founded by two young 20-year-olds, Nick and Lucas, aiming to positively connect communities through unique laundry and shower services for the homeless.
• The organization thrives on innovation, with solar-powered vans and a model emphasizing consistent, reliable service delivery in partnership with local resources.
• Homelessness is multifaceted, depicted not only by street living but also by couch surfing and temporary accommodations. The rising demographic of concern is women over 55.
• Volunteers at Orange Sky are not just service providers but are seen as conversationalists who build trust and connections amidst the homelessness community, providing much-needed human interaction.
• The organization's impact goes beyond providing clean clothes, as embodied by Ros's story, illustrating the deep relationships and connections forged through their services.

Notable Quotes:

1. "One friend told me the other day that if he hadn't come down to our shift, he wouldn't have spoken to someone all week." - Emma Young
2. "What we soon realized was that it was actually the connection that people were coming to shift for." - Emma Young
3. "There's a song by Alexi Murdoch, a beautiful song that talks about helping our brothers and sisters under an orange sky." - Emma Young
4. "Homelessness is complex and there's a lot of reasons why someone might be experiencing homelessness or hardship." - Emma Young
5. "Everyone has a story to tell… you just never know what someone's going through in that moment of kindness and connection." - Emma Young

Resources:

• Orange Sky Website: orangesky.org.au