Accelerating Impact: How Docusign Helped We Are Mobilise Scale Digital Solutions to End Homelessness

Homelessness in Australia is a complex and urgent social issue, affecting more than 122,000 people on any given night. Yet, the face of homelessness is often misunderstood; while many envision rough sleepers on city streets, in reality, 94% of homeless Australians are in cars, shelters, boarding houses, or couch-surfing, lacking a stable, safe place to call home.

In 2016, We Are Mobilise began as a small group of university friends walking city streets, offering essential items and conversation to people experiencing homelessness. Now, We Are Mobilise has pioneered a Direct Giving model that instead of duplicating existing services, partners with frontline charities to fill funding gaps, providing rapid, flexible financial support for rent, bonds, and bills. By mid-2025 the organisation has already distributed over $1million to program participants, supporting over 400 people.

Speaking to Jake Hamilton, Head of Operations, we got to learn more about We Are Mobilise’s story and how the team have been using Docusign to streamline and simplify processes, uplift productivity, and give employees the helping hand they need.

Growing a movement, one digital step at a time

Scaling this vision meant rethinking how Mobilise worked behind the scenes. As the organisation expanded from a handful of volunteers to a national presence, its grassroots processes - email chains, manual ID checks, and paperwork - became a barrier to growth. For case managers supporting people at critical junctures, every hour spent on forms was an hour not providing meaningful help. For those in crisis, delays could mean missing a rare opportunity for safe housing.

“We needed a way to make support both accessible and secure for participants as well as partner charities. It was also crucial to keep the experience simple, fast, and intuitive, especially for people who might only have one shot at completing a form, often on a mobile device and in a moment of urgent need,” Jake explained.

Creating seamless, secure support 

Docusign became the engine powering We Are Mobilise’s next chapter. By moving to Docusign eSignature and ID Verification, Mobilise transformed cumbersome workflows into seamless, digital interactions. Now, case managers could submit referrals in minutes, and participants could verify their identity and consent to support using clear, mobile-friendly forms, no scanning, printing, or email ping-pong required.

The integration of Docusign with We Are Mobilise’s Salesforce and automation tools meant that every step, from referral to fund disbursement, was tracked, secure, and fast. “Embedding Docusign into our every day meant we could quickly adapt to the needs of individuals, whether verifying ID with government documents or manually reviewing alternative IDs for those who had left everything behind,” said Jake. 

We Are Mobilise’s commitment to privacy and dignity for those they serve found a perfect solution in Docusign’s secure system. Sensitive information was verified without being stored, reducing risk and increasing trust at every interaction.

Unlocking growth and efficiency to drive social change

With Docusign, Mobilise rapidly scaled its impact. In just over a year, the team grew from zero to eight staff, processing hundreds of referrals nationwide while maintaining a lean, efficient operation. As the number of people helped increased, the time required to process each referral dropped, thanks to the streamlined, automated process Docusign enabled. In fact, the team has seen a 90% reduction in contract processing times.

Jake said, “Using Docusign has taken out four to five distinct steps from our workflow, a shift that freed up staff and case managers to focus on what matters most: building relationships, supporting people, and driving innovation across the sector. 

“For those in crisis, the speed and simplicity of Docusign meant the difference between securing housing and losing that chance. This is a huge advantage that can’t be underestimated, both for our business and those we’re striving to support.”

Beyond the numbers, Mobilise found that a digital-first approach allowed them to foster deeper partnerships with other charities, real estate agencies, and advocates. The organisation could confidently promise partners a secure, user-friendly process, and quickly respond to urgent needs,sometimes turning around funding within the hour.

Redefining what’s possible in homelessness support

As We Are Mobilise continues to grow, fuelled by high-profile campaigns and partnerships with changemakers like Nedd Brockmann and institutions like triple j, they remain committed to their founding principle: trust people to know what they need, and back them with the resources and respect they deserve. Docusign’s technology has become a crucial part of that promise, supporting We Are Mobilise’s mission to build a future where no one is left behind.

The charity’s story is a testament to the power of combining innovation, compassion, and digital tools. By removing barriers to support, We Are Mobilise is not just helping people find homes, they are rewriting the script for how Australia addresses homelessness.

Jake concluded: “Docusign has become more than just a technology solution for us: it’s a trusted partner in our mission. It has enabled us to scale nationally, build trust with our partners, and deliver life-changing support to people when they need it most. The platform has truly been a key driver in turning our vision into reality.”