Members of the St Vincent de Paul Society, including the Director of Homelessness and Housing were joined by a number of the Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar, for the blessing by Bishop Michael Kennedy of the Tenison Woods Units at Swansea for women urgently in need of accommodation.
Knowing the number of people in the Hunter living in temporary housing, the Josephite Sisters gifted their former aged care facility to the St Vincent de Paul Society in the hope of addressing, in some way, the growing demand for such a service.
The thirty-two room facility was opened towards the end of last year to provide accommodation for First Nations women aged fifty and over as well for women living with a disability and their dependents. These groups are among the neediest number of women facing homelessness in our region.
In the few months since its opening, 75 women have been accommodated, including 25 First Nations persons, 28 women over 50 years. Of those 42 women have moved into alternate accommodation – including refuges, public housing and private housing
Seeing such numbers in so short a time shows how great is the need for safe and affordable housing. This new venture is close to the heart of all Vinnies and Josephite Sisters. May God bless all who stay in the Tenison Woods Units and may they find the rest, security and strength to rebuild their lives.