Social Justice Hub | Empowering Students & Schools

So, what exactly is homelessness?

Homelessness is a broad term, and while everyone has a different experience of being homeless, at its very core, homelessness is about absence. An absence of a home, a safe place to live, security, choices and control over one’s life. It is also often an absence of family and friends.

160 people we helped to find and settle into temporary accommodation this year

What is the Women’s House?

“I can’t explain how nice it was to just have the basics, a roof over my head and a shower.”

From homelessness to a forever home: Read more about Phil’s Story!

👋 Welcome back! Log in to view and complete lessons…

2038 therapy appointments, attendance at group activities and ‘pop up’ events at the Wellness Place this year

Anti-Poverty Week 2025

For more than 20 years Anti-Poverty Week has operated in Australia around the 17th of October, the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Anti-Poverty Week 2024 will run from Sunday 12 October to Saturday 18 October. Click below to see how you can get involved!

Get involved!

What are the Top 5 Reasons People Present to us?

I’m homeless and need assistance to access housing (17.6%)
Assistance with mental health issues (14%)
Assistance with physical health issues (13%)
I need support to remain living in my own home (10.8%)
For material and/or financial assistance or support (9.38%)

Read about the range of services we provide to meet these needs!

$229 provides a night in crisis accommodation for a woman fleeing domestic violence

Take the what is homelessness lesson

“Art is a great way of celebrating the diversity, creativity and resilience that we see in our participants. The arts can show us how and where people shine.”

Read about the ‘Comics Together’ project

$50 provides a woman with crucial and immediate help at the Women’s House

Our op shops

$1,826 will cover the daily costs for the chefs and kitchen staff that cook the nutritious three course meals in the Dining Hall

“I began sleeping in my car until it wasn’t safe and it had to go to the tip, and after that I was couch surfing. I would go to the next place, pull some of my super out to get into another shared place, and I’d end up getting ripped off.”

Read Luke’s Story

What is Advocacy?

When we see something in our society that we think is unfair, we often want to tell other people and get them to care too so that the issue may be fixed. This is called advocacy.

Advocacy is when we support, promote, and defend the rights, needs and interests of a person or group of people as well as a cause or policy.

Anyone can be an advocate.

Learn how to be an advocate and ally!

“Thank God for Homefront […] They supported me to look for permanent housing and kept extending my stay until I could find a safe and secure place to live.”

Read more about Danni’s experiences of homelessness and disability!

Through social inclusion, people can re-enter society on their terms

“If you get a chance to deal with them (J2SI), do it. They do nothing but help you. They don’t criticise, they don’t look down their nose. They’re just there to help. That’s what I like.” – Journey to Social Inclusion (J2SI) participant

Read more about our trauma-informed J2SI program!

Fundraise for Sacred Heart Mission

How to Fundraise

Inside Women’s House: Support we provide

How your support helps at Women’s House…

93,816 meals served in our Dining Hall this year

361 people supported to find and settle into housing this year

SHM Women’s Cooking Program

The women’s cooking program empowers women to reclaim their independence!

Read about the residential cooking program

“I was feeling a bit anxious and defensive and one of the lovely workers just looked at me one day and she said, ‘Maria you look lovely when you smile.’ It meant a lot to me and from there I really started appreciating this place so much more. It’s my home.”

Read more about Maria’s story of sudden homelessness at 51 when escaping domestic violence!

Take the stereotypes and judgements lesson

$10 provides a meal and access to support for someone in need

475 people receiving support from Sacred Heart Mission’s outreach programs this year

Recent trends for the Women’s House client demographic

“homelessness is not a choice, and if it is a choice, it is definitely not the easy one. Most people just judge it on face value and that’s far from what it really is.”

Read Mandy’s Story

“They’ve expanded enormously in the range of services. I was just reading the other day about how they’ve altered the old primary school and making it into residential care. What a great idea. The Mission seems to always be looking forward to what is the need in the community and not just doing everything. They are very tuned into what the big needs are.” – Judy

Our Key Advocacy Areas:

1. Access and eligibility for people experiencing profound exclusion and disadvantage
2. Affordable, safe, accessible, and secure housing
3. Impact of trauma
4. Economic and social inclusion

Learn more about our advocacy!