St Mary's House Of Welcome

Based on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, St Mary’s House of Welcome has been serving community members who are homeless, sleeping rough, battling addictions and living with mental illness for over 50 years. St Mary’s provides people experiencing poverty and disadvantage with the things that many of us take for granted – a shared meal, a shower, friendships, a safe space and a sense of community. It also provides specialist, holistic support to help people get back on their feet including counselling and group activities, as well as access to networks and agencies for housing and drug and alcohol support. St Mary’s offers help to anyone who needs it – no one is turned away. Run on donations, with the support of over 150 dedicated volunteers, the service helps 200 people on a daily basis. Last month alone St Mary’s delivered 610 basic human necessities such showers, 3,311 meals, 170 counselling sessions and 110 referrals to further support. Over the last three years demand for homelessness services have risen 30 percent in Victoria, on any given night almost 22,000 people are sleeping rough. You will make a difference to the lives of the hundreds of participants who come through our doors each week. As a small, community, not for profit we rely on the support of the community and business to assist us. St Mary’s House of Welcome is a registered charity, and donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.