PEOPLE assisted to find accommodation will receive a handmade tote bag to welcome them to their new home, courtesy of a partnership between Redland City Boomerang Bags and INSYNC Youth Services.
Boomerang Bags community leader Sharr Ellson said INSYNC, an organisation that helped homeless people find accommodation, would use the bags for holding toiletry items that were provided for occupants of new homes.
"The bags go into the bathroom as a nice little surprise," Ms Ellson said.
"It's a bag they can use for their toiletries but also at the shops or at the library."
Boomerang Bags, an initiative born on the Gold Coast in 2013, now has 860 bag-making communities worldwide, including one in Redland City which is roughly 30 members strong.
The Redlands group began handing out and selling bags to discourage the use of single-use plastic bags and has made nearly 3000 bags in the last two years.
She said the group had received an overwhelmingly positive response from people who had received the bag, both on the street and as a gift in their new homes.
"Some people have never received a handmade item so to receive something made just for them by someone in the community has really made them think further, not just about the plastic they use but about a fabric item that's been made and the time and skill that's gone into it," Ms Ellson said.
Each Boomerang Bag takes three to four hours to make and is crafted from donated fabric at the group's regular create events.
"We've got to make sure (the fabric is) clean, cut it up and someone will iron that kit and sew it," Ms Ellson said.
"Then we have pockets that are screen printed, so we print those and sew them on too."
Ms Ellson said the group used fabric unsuitable for bags for other items including cutlery pouches, wax wraps and dog beds.
Volunteering for Boomerang Bags gave older people the chance to use their sewing talents and younger people the chance to learn useful skills, Ms Ellson said.
"We're bringing purpose back to these people," she said.
The group is open to new volunteers and people do not have to be master sewers to get involved.
To volunteer, visit the group's Facebook page at Boomerang Bags Redland City or email boomerangbagsredlandscity@gmail.com.