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Don’t miss a beat – with our newsletter, Heartbeat

Join our community of Heartbeat subscribers and keep up-to-date with how your support is making all the difference. Every month, we’ll share:

  • Inspiring stories from our staff, volunteers and clients
  • News from our programs and services
  • Information and updates on homelessness in Australia
  • Ideas how you can get involved
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Past newsletters

Volunteers work in the Dining Hall

How the Dining Hall keeps people cool in summer

Heartbeat February 2024

People experiencing homelessness are some of the most vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.

Read on to see how the Dining Hall brings reprieve from the elements.

 

A small house being held in the palms of a persons hands

This is how we help women exit homelessness

Heartbeat January 2024

Homefront, our Women’s crisis accommodation service, acts as a circuit breaker for women experiencing homelessness.

Read on to see how Homefront is making a difference.

 

blonde woman smiles at the camera

A thank you from the team

Heartbeat December 2023

A heart felt thank you from everyone at Sacred Heart mission for all your support over the last year!

Read on to see all the milestones we achieved together this year.

 

Tyson stands with his back to the camera looking upwards

In his thirties, Tyson moved into his first ever home

Heartbeat November 2023

Many of our clients at Sacred Heart Mission experience social and economic exclusion as a result of their homelessness experiences. This Social Inclusion Week (18-26 November) you’ll meet Tyson, who has a long history of drug use and incarceration but has turned his life around and is now employed.

Read on to hear about his story of resilience and reconnection.

 

 

A crowd of people seated look up towards the sky with their arms in the air celebrating

Celebrating our new Campus of Care

Heartbeat October 2023

Earlier this month we celebrated the completion of our multi-stage redevelopment with staff, volunteers, clients, supporters and neighbours. It was beautiful seeing the community come together for this milestone in Sacred Heart Mission’s history and to honour the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in this project that has been more than six years in the making.

Read more about the celebration in this month’s newsletter!

 

 

Client Andrea looks into the camera

Get behind the voice to parliament!

Heartbeat September 2023

When you cast your vote on 14 October 2023, please consider that the current approach is not working. It hasn’t worked for over 200 years. Indigenous people experience poorer health, education and housing outcomes than non-Indigenous people. First Nations people are also overrepresented in our client group.

Read Andrea’s story in this month’s newsletter to see how our services are helping Indigenous Australians.

 

Sacred Heart Mission staff smiling

The impact you are making

Heartbeat August 2023

In marking Homelessness Week (7-13 August), we surprised staff and donors with feedback from our clients. Watch the video in our newsletter to see their emotional reactions and find out how your support is making a real impact.

Lounge area at Sacred Heart Mission's Women's House

Our Campus of Care has opened its doors

Heartbeat July 2023

Our multi-stage redevelopment project is finally completed, and we have opened our new Campus of Care to clients. A big part of the development is providing housing for vulnerable people in the community. Our new site, 99 on Grey, provides 14 new studio apartments for older people who have a strong connection to the St Kilda area, experience chronic homelessness and are eligible for social housing.

Woman standing in the kitchen of Bethlehem Community and preparing a fruit platter

A cooking program helps women gain independence

Heartbeat June 2023

All our services enhance that sense of connection by fostering social inclusion, independence and building life skills, which are key in ensuring people can maintain their housing in the long term and recover from homelessness. A great example is our cooking program at Bethlehem Community, a residential service for women. Read all about it in this issue of our Heartbeat newsletter.

Op shop volunteer Judy standing in front of a bookshelf and holding a bouquet

Make Change this National Volunteer Week

Heartbeat May 2023

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate and recognise our volunteers who help at Sacred Heart Mission’s op shops, Dining Hall, Women’s House and other areas of the Mission. Their kindness and care changes lives.

Man standing in a white kitchen with his back turned to the camera

“Once I had enough money to live, I turned a corner”

Heartbeat April 2023

Luke’s journey of homelessness began after his place was redeveloped, and he needed to move. Through no fault of his own, he ended up sleep in his car.

Read on to hear Luke’s story and how he turned a corner.

Lisa and Bella, op shop staff members

Meet the women making a difference

Heartbeat March 2023

Op shop team members Lisa, Bella and Shweta come from different walks of life. Their experiences enrich our community and bring different perspectives and ideas to our stores. 

Read more about Lisa, Bella and Shweta, and how your support can help end homelessness.

Volunteer chopping food

How our services change lives

Heartbeat February 2023

We collected feedback from people who attend our Engagement Hubs about what they think of Sacred Heart Mission’s services.

Learn what they had to say in the February edition of our newsletter.

Char Hunter, volunteer at Northcote op shop

The new generation driving positive change

Heartbeat January 2023

Meet Char – our Generation Z volunteer who is looking to make a huge impact through our op shops.

Find out more about Char and how you can contribute in the January issue of our newsletter.

Woman looking into the distance

A visit to the Dining Hall can change a life

Heartbeat December 2022

Isobel has a remarkable story – she went from being the CEO of a big company to experiencing homelessness in the blink of an eye.

Read more about Isobel and how you can help this festive period in the December issue of our newsletter.

Two people standing in front of a colourful quilt

Creating a feeling of belonging

Heartbeat November 2022

At Sacred Heart Community, our residential aged care home, we offer a unique lifestyle program to ensure our residents feel safe and connected to their community.

Find out more about our resident-focused and driven approach in this issue of our newsletter.

Two men sitting in armchairs and talking with each other

Housing is essential for good mental health

Heartbeat October 2022

Homelessness and mental ill health are inextricably linked. To combat the barriers for people experiencing poor mental health and homelessness, Sacred Heart Mission partners with Alfred Health’s Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Service.

Find out more about our partnership and how it benefits our clients and the community.

Hang Vo, Sacred Heart Mission CEO

Meet our new CEO, Hang Vo!

Heartbeat September 2022

Sacred Heart Mission has announced our incoming CEO, Hang Vo! Hang comes to us with over 25 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector and will take up the role of CEO in December 2022 following the retirement of current CEO, Cathy Humphrey. 

Read more about Hang in this Heartbeat issue and find out why she is excited to join the Sacred Heart Mission family.

A Meals Program staff member prepares food in the Dining Hall

The Dining Hall is open!

Heartbeat August 2022

More than two years and 250K+ takeaway meals later, your generous and continued support has made it possible to open our doors.

Two men walking, their faces are turned towards each other

A plan to end homelessness

Heartbeat August 2022

More than two years and 250K+ takeaway meals later, your generous and continued support has made it possible to open our doors.

Group photo of our GreenLight Supportive Housing team

For a future free from homelessness

Heartbeat July 2022

Imagine finally being approved for a public or community housing property when you have never had a tenancy before. You move into your property, but you don’t have the support you need, and the tenancy breaks down. This is exactly what our GreenLight program works to prevent as they support clients with everything related to their tenancy.

Client Mandy hugging her cat

Mandy’s story: “Homelessness is not a choice”

Heartbeat June 2022

Homelessness was the reality for Mandy since she was a teenager. But worrying about how cold it will be tonight is no longer a concern for her. Through our Journey to Social Inclusion (J2SI) program, she is in stable housing for the first time in a long time. Read her story in this edition of the Heartbeat newsletter.

Cathy Humphrey, CEO Sacred Heart Mission

Our next chapter

Heartbeat May 2022

After 20 wonderful years working at Sacred Heart Mission, including the last decade as CEO, Cathy Humphrey will be retiring at the end of this year.

Parliament House, Canberra

Vote to end homelessness on 21 May

Heartbeat April 2022

The 2022 Federal Election is a time to think about how we can create change in our society, and support people experiencing chronic homelessness and disadvantage to exit homelessness for good. Learn in this edition, how you can use your vote to ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.

John Taru, Peer Support Worker at Sacred Heart Mission

Supporting clients into meaningful work

Heartbeat March 2022

At Sacred Heart Mission our aim is to not only assist our clients out of homelessness, but to ensure they have the opportunity to engage fully in community life – which includes participating in meaningful work. This is where our Workforce Participation Worker, John Taru, come in.  Find out in this edition, how he supports our clients.