AT least 100 children will be sleeping in tents, cars or temporary shelters in the Fremantle region over Christmas, says St Pat’s CEO Michael Piu.
Since launching their Family Support Program last month, the Freo Community Support Centre has been inundated with requests for help and is already at capacity.
“Sadly we have seen a growing number of people, particularly families, facing homelessness this year,” Piu says.
“With the news that Perth has been named the most unaffordable city for renters for the second-year running, we predict demand will only increase in the new year.
“The impact of homelessness on a child’s development cannot be overstated, both immediate and long-term, so our biggest concern is finding them and their families a safe, appropriate place to call home as soon as possible.”
• The staff and volunteers at St Pat’s do a fantastic job over the Christmas period.
The good news is that St Pat’s has lots of support for folk doing it tough over the festive period.
They’ll be serving about 400 Christmas lunches, distributing around 500 Christmas Hampers, and holding their popular Christmas Party on December 17 at St Patrick’s Parish Hall.
Their Christmas Appeal is well underway (you can donate at donate.stpats.com.au) and its community centre will be open on Christmas and Boxing Days, providing meals and a friendly chat.
“We’re fortunate to have the support of a number of generous schools and local businesses who have donated much needed items, and their sorting and packing power, to help us get everything ready in time,” Piu says
“This includes preparing about 100 special Christmas Hampers for families with children we’re supporting.
“We were particularly humbled this year by a generous, one-off gift from The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation to support our clients experiencing food insecurity over the festive season.”
Dignity
For the past nine years, a fundraising highlight for St Pat’s has been the popular Long Table Dinner on High Street, but recently it changed location, before being dropped altogether this year.
“We have agreed to take a pause this year to review the event,” Piu says.
“This much-loved event has always been delivered by a small team of staff, supported by a large and dedicated group of volunteers, and we want to ensure that any future plans are sustainable and reflective of how best to continue engaging our community.
“We are exploring how we might best connect with the community moving forward.”
• Staff and volunteers helping out at St Pat’s.
To help tackle the homelessness crisis in Greater Perth, construction is underway on a new St Pat’s Engagement Hub on Beach Street.
The facility will have free health clinics, including optometry and dental, private showers and an in-house laundry.
It will also provide a safe, welcoming environment for families with children, including a Wellbeing Cafe, providing all-day access to nutritious meals.
The Hub was originally scheduled to be opened by the end of 2025, but it’s been pushed back to July 2026.
“Our new Engagement Hub has experienced a few unforeseen delays, as can often happen with projects of this size, but we anticipate we’ll be making good progress from here on out,” Piu says.
“We are fortunate in that all of our services can continue running as usual while work is underway, so there has been no impact on the people we support.
“We look forward to sharing good news about that project, along with a few others our team has been working hard on, with everyone in the new year.”
At the time of going to print, St Pat’s Christmas Appeal had raised more than $56,000.
“We at St Pat’s believe that everyone deserves to feel welcomed and valued by their community, especially at Christmas,” Piu says.
“Unfortunately for many the festive season can be isolating — a reminder of what’s missing.”
To donate or find out more go to donate.stpats.com.au.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK