The Spirit | September 20161

TheSeptember 2016

A NEWSLETTER FROM THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY (WA) Inc.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:• Tom Fisher House opens• New education program• CEO Sleepout • New Home update• And much more …

RESTORING HOPE

RESTORING HOPE FOR ALANA

Alana was caught up in a cycle of addiction and domestic violence. She was beaten so badly by her husband that she ended up in hospital.

Alana decided one day to take her three young children and leave the city and the violence behind.

They spent several months wandering from place to place until eventually arriving in a town in the Great Southern District.

By the time Alana was discovered sleeping in her car at a sports ground at the middle of town, she was tired, unwell and had almost given up all hope.

“I don’t think I would be around today if it wasn’t for Vinnies. They gave me a home for me and my kids. They helped me get my eldest daughter back into school and showed me how to get help with lots of other things. I didn’t think anyone would care about what was happening to me and my kids. All I can say is thank you Vinnies.” - Alana

After a little over a year participating in the Prospect House Program, Alana is now in stable long term accommodation, is studying to become a chef and is looking into buying her own home through the WA Government shared equity keystart initiative.

PROSPECT HOUSEProspect House in Albany opened in October 2010 as a residential facility for people experiencing homelessness. Prospect House provides safe, secure housing and links residents up to external employment, welfare, health, social and crisis services. It provides mentoring support, training and education, and helps residents overcome barriers to finding employment and accommodation.

Warm greetings to all of you reading this, our latest edition of The Spirit newsletter. On behalf of the St Vincent de Paul Society in WA, I want to sincerely thank all of you - our supporters, donors and volunteers for helping us to continue to restore hope and provide comfort to people in need.

As a forward thinking and future focused organisation, we are in the process of undertaking one of our biggest challenges in many years. After much research and planning we identified a need to consolidate our administration office, currently located in Belmont, with our depot, which has outgrown its premises in Osborne Park.

Construction is already well underway on a more appropriate and efficient premises in Canning Vale, which will not only house the administration office and depot but a new Vinnies shop, call centre, and space for future projects. Lotterywest has generously assisted with the funding and we have embarked on a capital fundraising campaign to ensure that our existing services are not financially impacted.

I am also pleased to advise that the new Tom Fisher House in Beaufort Street for people experiencing acute homelessness is now operating and providing respite and assistance to people most in need.

There is much that we must continue to do as an organisation to address the poverty and inequality in our society and it is only through the kind generosity of our supporters and donors that we are able to address these needs and make a real impact. I trust this newsletter will provide some insight into the many activities and services we undertake and why we value your support.

Thank you for working with us. Only together can we break the cycle of disadvantage and shape a more just and compassionate society.

Bob Burns State President St Vincent de Paul Society WA Inc.

FROM THE STATE PRESIDENT

The Spirit is produced by the Media & Communications Coordinator.

All correspondence can be sent to:

St Vincent de Paul Society WA, PO Box 473 Belmont, WA 6984

Email: media@svdpwa.org.au

To respect the identity of the people we assist, names and images may have been changed.

The Spirit | September 20162

This year, the St Vincent de Paul Society partnered with Edith Cowan University (ECU) to provide opportunities for disadvantaged people to access free tertiary education.

The Catalyst Clemente program delivers tertiary-level education in the humanities for people facing additional challenges in their life, including financial constraints, health and social issues, and other factors.

St Vincent de Paul Society CEO Mark Fitzpatrick said it was great to be partnering with ECU to offer this free program for people experiencing disadvantage.

“The St Vincent de Paul Society is dedicated to helping people experiencing disadvantage, and education is an important way to help lift people out of poverty,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“The program provides an invaluable opportunity for people who may otherwise never have had the chance to undertake tertiary study.”

“But more than that, it helps instil the confidence and hope needed to bring about positive changes in their life,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

HERE WHEN THINGS TURN COLD

NEW PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE EDUCATION TO PEOPLE IN NEED

Students completing the four-unit program are able to go on to enrol in an undergraduate degree at ECU and embark on a new career.

“The commitment and enthusiasm that Clemente students have shown has made these my favourite classes to teach,” ECU lecturer Sharon Kostopoulos said.

“I go to class knowing they’ll be fully prepared and ready to learn, and I go home feeling like I’ve made a critical difference in their lives.”

Semester one student Amber, has already applied and been accepted into a Bachelor’s degree.

“I really like Clemente – it has definitely helped me both academically and personally,” Amber said.

“Clemente has made me realise I have the capacity to study at uni and gave me the confidence to take up opportunities I probably wouldn’t have taken up before.”

The remaining five classmates have been joined by new students and are currently undertaking semester two.

Thanks to all the businesses, community groups, schools and individuals who have supported this year’s Winter Appeal. Winter is always a busy time for the Society and with an increased number of people requiring help, the Winter Appeal is a vital fundraiser that enables us to provide that support.

Our emergency relief call centre volunteers are taking calls from a larger number of new clients as the difficult economic climate pushes more people into hardship. Since April of this year, they have been receiving an average of between 125 to 140 calls per day between the opening hours of 9am and 1pm.

As well as financial donations, the Society has accepted blankets, clothing and winter jackets which have been gratefully received by many of the young people who are sleeping rough. They are particularly useful with Perth experiencing record cold temperatures this winter.

The Spirit | September 20163

It was a chilly but clear evening when over 100 business and community leaders descended on the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) for the 7th annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout on Thursday 23 June 2016.

The dedicated group of participants had rallied together over many months to raise much needed funds and awareness for people experiencing homelessness. Thanks to all who took part, more than $650,000 was raised allowing us to continue to operate important homeless services in WA.

After enjoying a humble cup of soup and bread roll for dinner, participants grabbed their cardboard and proceeded to hunt down and claim a good spot to bunker down later in the evening.

The formalities provided an opportunity to gain a greater understanding around the issues of homelessness including a panel discussion around how we as a community can come together to address these issues. Participants also heard a firsthand account from someone who had been supported by one of our services and how it had helped him turn his life around.

Everyone who took part seemed to really appreciate the event and they were pleased to be involved in helping create positive change.

Save the date – the 2017 Vinnies CEO Sleepout will be held on Thursday 22 June.

Visit ceosleepout.org.au for further information.

I did this event for the first time in 2015 and the biggest thing that occurred to me was that there’s no privacy, there’s nowhere to feel safe, there’s nowhere to hide, it’s just you, facing the world. That must be so scary for people. I got in the car the next morning and burst into tears. The idea that I got to go home but for some people there is no home really troubled me. I am participating again this year because I know that people coming together for a better outcome is the only way we can really make a difference.

-KATHRYN SNELL, CEO VOLUNTEER TASK FORCE

The Spirit | September 20164

The event has had a huge impact on me personally. When I first got involved in the Sleepout 3 years ago, I thought I had a pretty good idea of the situation. Through the briefings it has become so much clearer to me the reasons why many people become homeless and also why so many fall foul of drugs, alcohol abuse and mental health problems. I didn’t realise that it was the awfulness and stress of living on the streets that actually causes a lot of the mental health issues and substance abuse. The first night I endured the cold

THANKS TO STATE SPONSORS: • Business News

• Comestibles

• Crown Perth

• Delaware North

• Leaf Bean Machine

• WACA

of the sleepover I hadn’t prepared myself properly, borrowing a sleeping bag from a friend which turned out to have little thermic protection and I didn’t eat enough before bed time. I woke at around 4am after a restless night, cold, uncomfortable and really hungry as my body had chewed through the few calories I had consumed in an effort to keep me warm. I couldn’t wait for the night to be over and I thought to myself, if I had to do this for an extended period of time, I would be mentally affected too, of that there is no doubt.

- MARK SHAW, CEO ADVENTURE WORLD

Barry Felstead (Crown Australian Resorts)

Brian Kelly (SNC Lavalin/Kentz)

Bob Bollen (Benz Insulation Services)

Raymond Tan (Tan & Tan Lawyers)

Shane Ball (Ballpoint Construction Group)

John Wood (National Lifestyle Villages)

Mark Fitzpatrick (St Vincent de Paul Society WA)

Mark Shaw (Adventure World)

Kim Gilbert (Zenith Insurance Services)

Steve Gliosca (Urbane Projects)

THANKYOU!

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO OUR TOP FUNDRAISERS:

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.

10.

The Spirit | September 20165

The Society is pleased that the new Tom Fisher House located at 278 Beaufort Street Highgate is in operation, with Perth’s rough sleepers able to access the custom built facility.

Previously running out of an interim location, Tom Fisher House provides a safe sleep for 12 people, including couples, for up to 7 nights for long term rough sleepers, along with access to meals, clothing and bedding, medical assistance, referrals to drug and alcohol support, mental health and other support services.

Tom Fisher House is part of the Street to Home Program and is funded by the Department for Child Protection and Family Support. It is a purpose-built premises staffed by skilled support workers. Referrals come from other agencies including the Street to Home Program, Nyoongar Patrol, Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Service and the WA Police.

Tom Fisher House is named to acknowledge the significant contributions Mr Tom Fisher OAM made to the St Vincent de Paul Society since 1960. Mr Fisher held the positions of Regional President, Vice President and State President in Western Australia. He volunteered in his local area of Osborne Park for over fifty years bringing friendship and support to people in need and played an integral role in opening one of the Society’s first services for men experiencing homelessness.

St Vincent de Paul Society’s CEO Mark Fitzpatrick said it is fitting that this service be named after Tom Fisher, because it will continue offering the same compassion, support and hope Tom offered so many during his time with the charity.

“Sadly Tom Fisher passed away on June 4 this year, aged 95, and he will miss the official opening of Tom Fisher House on August 9. However, we are pleased he was able to tour the site as it was being constructed,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“Tom was so chuffed to learn that such a wonderful service would be named in his honour. It is a living testament to his life of kindness and generosity to the community he served so selflessly,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

The project had its genesis in a meeting the Premier Colin Barnett MLA had with the then Archbishop, Barry Hickey and other heads of churches in 2010.

The Department for Housing contributed $4 million towards the land and capital works, with the Department for Child Protection and Family Support funding the operation of the service with a $1.4 million investment for three years.

At 55 years of age, Simon found himself homeless and alone.

Years of gambling and alcoholism had finally become too much for his wife and grown up children and Simon was told to leave the family home.

Simon became a participant of the Prospect House program in June 2015.

“I don’t know what on earth I was thinking, clearly I wasn’t thinking at all! I lost my home, my wife, my family and myself and came close to doing myself in a few times and well,

thank God for Vinnies. They don’t muck about at Prospect House. Pull your weight or push off! I think it is the best thing that could have happened to me at the time. Vinnies helped me see that where I was going was not the only option for me, there was help out there and people who cared, even about a useless silly old man. Thank you Vinnies, your bloods worth bottle’n.” - Simon

After only five months in the Prospect House Program Simon reconciled with his wife and has been sober ever since. Simon keeps in touch with staff and drops by Prospect House every few weeks volunteering to weed the front garden.

NEW TOM FISHER HOUSE OPENS

SIMON FINDS HIS FEET AGAIN

Channel 9’s Tracy Vo tours the building with its namesake Tom Fisher.

The Spirit | September 20166

In the previous edition of The Spirit newsletter we announced that the Vinnies administration building and depot were moving to a purpose built facility in Canning Vale, and work on the building is progressing well.

Along with the administration office (currently located in Belmont) and the depot (currently located in Osborne Park), it will also house a new Vinnies shop, emergency relief call centre, financial counselling service and space for future projects.

This move will ensure we can continue to assist more people now and into the future, and provides capacity for implementing new support programs.

Funding of this project is being done through a capital campaign, ensuring that our existing services are not financially impacted.

We have already received a Lotterywest grant and are now starting to see some generous donations to support the build.

Logistical planning is being undertaken to ensure the move is efficient and seamless. At this stage the project is on track for a move to the new premises to occur at the end of 2016.

For more information or to donate, visit buildingforchange.org.au

WORK PROGRESSING ON NEW HOME

The Spirit | September 20167

Over the years the St Vincent de Paul Society has been able to help many people because of the generosity of those who have supported us by leaving a gift in their Will. Bequest funds are vital to the Society and are used to further the assistance and care given to the disadvantaged and marginalised, people living with mental illness and struggling families. A gift in your Will is a wonderful way to continue to make a difference in the lives of people in need into the future.

Vinnies shops have been busy exploring new initiatives to attract customers and create a unique op-shopping experience. The Mount Hawthorn shop has hosted two VIP personal styling nights. The lucky participants had the opportunity to ‘Get styled’ by professional personal stylist Stephanie Radonich from Viva Personal Styling. With the shop opened exclusively for the participants, they enjoyed refreshments while being shown what colours suit and how to dress for their body shape.

Another VIP event saw Perth’s princess of Perthonality ‘Famous Sharron’ host a shopping tour of selected Vinnies shops. Fresh from the Perth Comedy Festival, Famous Sharron entertained the bus of avid op-shoppers as they enjoyed refreshments whilst perusing the apparel across the Claremont, Mount Hawthorn and Northbridge shops. Keep an eye on the Vinnies WA Facebook page for future VIP op-shopping events.

STYLED BY VINNIES

Follow us & keep up with all the activities and news of the Society!

REMEMBER VINNIES IN YOUR WILL AND LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY

LEAVING A BEQUEST

IN YOUR WILL

Did you know that the most powerful, practical and lasting way to help the St Vincent de Paul Society is to leave a gift in your Will? It ensures that our programs that support people in need will continue well into the future.

While no one likes to think about Will-related matters, it is never too early to plan ahead. We have prepared three useful publications to help you ensure your personal affairs are in order. Simply complete and return this form for your free no-obligation copies.

Post to: The Bequest Officer, St Vincent de Paul Society (WA) Inc, PO Box 473, BELMOST, WA 6984 Tel: 08 9475 5400 Fax: 08 9475 5499 Email: bequests@svdpwa.org.au Web: vinnies.org.au