St Patrick’s Community Support Centre has raised $22 million to build a new support centre and housing for people experiencing homelessness.
St Patrick’s Community Support Centre has raised $22 million to start building a new support centre and housing for people experiencing homelessness.
The Fremantle-based not for profit launched a campaign in mid-2023 to raise funds for the project, setting a target of reaching $22 million before this year’s National Homelessness Week, which runs from August 5 to 11.
The state government has contributed $7.5 million, Minderoo Foundation donated $4 million, while the remaining funds were provided by a variety of philanthropic donors including Lotterywest and the Congregation of the Sisters of St John of God.
St Pat’s is set to use the funding to convert a vacant warehouse on Beach Street in Fremantle into 28 new one-bedroom social homes, offering long-term self-contained housing for people coming out of homelessness, and a fit-for-purpose community facility.
The heritage-listed building on Queen Victoria Street, which acts as the organisation’s current base, is also set to undergo renovation.
A render of the new support and community centre. Credit: Slavin Architects
St Pat’s launched another campaign in July to fund the final fit-out of the redevelopment, which includes a health and dental clinic, and housing interiors and furnishings.
As part of this second campaign, St Pat’s introduced its new Furnishing Futures Fund to assist people with purchasing furniture, homewares and other housing necessities after they exit homelessness.
The organisation recorded a 30 per cent increase in demand for its homelessness support services over the past 12 months, reporting an 18-month wait list for the organisation’s pro-bono dental clinic and that its accommodation was at maximum capacity.
St Pat’s chief executive Michael Piu said the funding for a new facility came at a key time, when demand for homelessness services was at an all-time high.
“As much as we love our current home, and the things it has allowed us to achieve, we know that we have to step-up and scale-up our services, including early intervention, and we need the right housing with wrap-around support to help people attain and maintain housing,” Mr Piu said.
“Thanks to the generosity of our major partners we’ve been able to reach our target ahead of schedule.”
Mr Piu said that while St Pat’s still needed to raise funds for the facility’s internal fit-out, the organisation was “on the home stretch” to greatly contribute to ending chronic homelessness.
“The beauty of this project is that it’s bringing people and organisations together to take real action in tackling homelessness and build a fairer, more resilient community for everyone who calls WA home,” Mr Piu said.
A render of the long-term self-contained apartments for people coming out of homelessness. Credit: Slavin Architects
Minderoo co-founder Nicola Forrest said the foundation was proud to join in supporting St Pat’s and its mission to provide practical and timely solutions to homelessness.
“St Pat’s reaches out and meets people where they are, providing a safe place for them to be seen, to be heard and to get access to services that many of us take for granted,” Ms Forrest said.
“Innovative redevelopments like this will enable St Pat’s to provide much-needed relief for those facing chronic homelessness and will continue to have a profound impact in the community for many years to come.”
Housing and Homelessness Minister John Carey said the state government contribution to St Pat’s was part of its aim to increase social housing supply.
“The Cook Government is deeply proud to support St Pat's Fremantle, who are one of the longest-serving community service providers, playing an integral role in assisting people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness,” Mr Carey said.
“I want to acknowledge the brilliant work of St Pat’s CEO Michael Piu and his team for their efforts and our Government will continue to work with St Pat’s into the future.”
