Sacred Heart Mission
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to build people's capacity to participate more fully in community life, by addressing the underlying causes of deep, persistent disadvantage and social exclusion.
About This Cause
Our work encompasses Welcome, Support & Long-term Care WELCOME: Our Engagement Hubs Meals Program & Women's House Sacred Heart Mission’s engagement hubs, including the dining hall or meals program and women’s house, are designed to provide a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental introduction to our services, where people experiencing homelessness can connect with our support workers and the range of services available. For people who are homeless, the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter and safety are most important. Once these basic needs are met through our engagement hubs, people can connect with our diverse range of services. Over 40 years ago, Sacred Heart Mission's first step in assisting people experiencing homelessness was the provision of a free meal in a welcoming and safe space. This work continues today and a whole range of innovative and accessible support services can be accessed through our engagement hubs. The Women’s house follows a similar set of guiding principles but recognises the unique needs of women that are experiencing homelessness and persistent disadvantage. This space is for women only and provides breakfast and lunch, amenties, a safe space to relax and assistance with housing, case management, drug and alcohol support and more. SUPPORT: Individualised Planned Support Case Management - Hands on Health Clinic - Resource Room - Wellbeing & Activities - GP Doctor Service Sacred Heart Mission’s support services for individuals aims to provide an intensive, holistic approach to well being for people experiencing homelessness and deep disadvantage, covering physical, spiritual and mental health issues as well as more practical everyday living concerns. These support services also work in conjunction with community partners to provide further assistance with finding housing, developing life skills and dealing with legal issues to address the range of problems experienced by those in the cycle of poverty, homelessness and disadvantage. Maintaining connection with community is an important focus - through community participation, activities and wellbeing initiatives. We help build self esteem, social skills and sense of belonging, which are critical areas to help prevent people from experiencing the despair and lack of hope that is so often experienced by those facing the challenges of persistent disadvantage. These services not only address the concerns of people experiencing homelessness but also work towards early intervention. By working to address the causes and effects of homelessness and disadvantage at an early stage, these services help prevent more people entering this cycle. LONGER TERM SUPPORT & ACCOMMODATION Journey to Social Inclusion - Aged Care - Home Care - Rooming House - Women's Accommodation Sacred Heart Mission’s facilities for longer term support and accommodation were established to tackle the long term effects of homelessness and disadvantage. There is a strong emphasis on aged care, and programs to exit the cycle of long term homelessness, but also provision of facilities that enable people find secure stable accommodation for extended periods. Within these facilities and programs there is a mix of low and high care services that are necessary to deal with issues that arise from spending long periods in a cycle of disadvantage, whether from experiencing homelessness for extended periods, disability, experiencing life-long poverty, mental illness or struggles with addiction. Many of the participants in these projects have experienced terrible hardship over the course of their lives, with significant levels of substantial trauma that often accompany lives spent in disadvantage. Therefore the need for a unique and often intensive approach is necessary that is not found in more traditional streams of aged care and housing facilities, incorporating physical, mental and spiritual care as well as recreation and lifestyle programs that assist with overall happiness and well being. Like all Sacred Heart Mission services, the importance of connection with community is a cornerstone of our approach. Loneliness and despair are prevalent and damaging effects of poverty experienced over long periods, so participants and residents are encouraged at all times to continue to play a part in society rather than withdraw. JOURNEY TO SOCIAL INCLUSION (J2SI) J2SI supports people to exit long-term homelessness. We are currently undertaking a scaled-up third phase of our J2SI program which will support 180 people to exit chronic homelessness over the next five years, financed by the Victorian Government's first Social Impact Investment. This follows a successful second Phase of J2SI 2016 - 2019 and the 2009 – 2012 J2SI Pilot. Through J2SI Phase III, we aim for J2SI to become the preferred response to chronic homelessness and be delivered under license by multiple social service organisations across Australia. A J2SI Evaluation and Learning Centre has recently been established at Sacred Heart Mission to progress the licensing model and begin support for the first social service organisation to deliver the program. J2SI takes a significant departure from existing approaches and sets a new benchmark for addressing chronic homelessness. It's different as it takes a relationship-based approach, provides long-term support, and works from the premise that if people can sustain their housing and manage their complex health issues, this provides a solid foundation to the next steps of building skills, becoming a part of the community and contributing to society. Ultimately, J2SI saves lives, reduces reliance on the social services system including expensive health and emergency services, and prevents people from being incarcerated. The J2SI pilot, which supported 40 people over three years, delivered impressive results. A study undertaken a year after service delivery came to an end, showed that 75% of participants remained in stable housing after four years, 80% had seen a decline in the need for health services and the pilot offered savings to government of up to $32,080 per participant. The Australian Government acknowledged the pilot with a National Homelessness Services Award for excellence and innovation in 2013. It has also received a Council to Homeless Persons award for excellence in ending homelessness for adults.