St Mary's House of Welcome

St Mary's House of Welcome In the heart of Fitzroy, we stand with Melbourne's most vulnerable Our open-door policy means anyone who needs help can receive it.

St Mary’s House of Welcome is a Specialist Access Point in the heart of Melbourne for people experiencing homelessness. We provide essential supports to people sleeping rough and experiencing other forms of homelessness, disadvantage, severe and persistent mental health issues, and those who are isolated and socially marginalised. Based on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, St Mary’s House of Welcome has

been serving some of our community’s most vulnerable members since 1960. For those facing homelessness, St Mary’s House of Welcome provides the necessities that many of us take for granted:

– a nourishing, freshly cooked meal served in our dining room
– toiletries, a hot shower and a change of clothes
– laundry facilities to keep clothing and bedding fresh and dry
– a warm, welcoming communal space to find friendships and refuge from the weather
– communal activities to encourage engagement and a sense of social inclusion
– specialist, holistic support to help people get back on their feet including counselling and referrals to networks and agencies for housing and drug and alcohol support. The cost-of-living crisis and housing shortage has put increasing pressure on those who are already doing it tough. There is no judgement, and no one is turned away. As a small, community not-for-profit, we rely on the generosity of the community and business sector to enable us to continue our vital work. Your contribution is the first step towards a fresh start for someone in need. St Mary’s House of Welcome is a registered charity, and donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

This September, we’re stepping outside our doors and into Fitzroy Public Gallery for a very special exhibition celebrati...
28/08/2026

This September, we’re stepping outside our doors and into Fitzroy Public Gallery for a very special exhibition celebrating the people, creativity and community of St Mary’s House of Welcome - past and present.

In 1991, photographer Kevin Clogstoun spent around six months having lunch at St Mary’s, getting to know the people who came through our doors and capturing moments of everyday life. His photographs were first exhibited in 1992, and more than 30 years later, they’re being shown once again.

Alongside Kevin’s remarkable photographs, we’ll be showcasing original mixed-media artworks created by participants in our Creative Wellness Workshops.

Together, the works offer a glimpse into St Mary’s House of Welcome across generations and celebrate the creativity, connection and people at the heart of our community.

📅 Saturday 12 September 2026
📍 Fitzroy Public Gallery, Smith Street
🎟️ Entry by donation - everyone is welcome

We’d love to see you there!

We need towels 💜We provide hot showers to our service users and rely heavily on towel donations. If you have towels at h...
27/08/2026

We need towels 💜

We provide hot showers to our service users and rely heavily on towel donations. If you have towels at home that you no longer need, we’d be incredibly grateful for your donation.

📍 Drop them off at our reception desk, 165–169 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
🕘 Monday to Friday, 9am–3:30pm

Thank you for helping us provide a warm, welcoming and dignified service to people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

There’s always something delicious cooking at St Mary’s House of Welcome! 🍽️Today’s lunch was Spanish-style snapper, ser...
19/08/2026

There’s always something delicious cooking at St Mary’s House of Welcome! 🍽️

Today’s lunch was Spanish-style snapper, served with rice and colourful roasted vegetables, prepared by our chef Ryan and kitchen team.

We’re incredibly fortunate to receive such a wonderful variety of ingredients, giving our kitchen team plenty of opportunity to get creative with the menu – from stuffed chicken and BBQs to Saturday brunch!

Behind every plate is plenty of creativity, care and teamwork, ensuring our service users can enjoy a fresh, nutritious and delicious meal six days a week. 💜

Last chance! The Great Meal Appeal Silent Auction closes TODAY!If you've had your eye on something special, now's the ti...
08/08/2026

Last chance! The Great Meal Appeal Silent Auction closes TODAY!

If you've had your eye on something special, now's the time to place your bid. From luxury getaways and unforgettable dining experiences to premium wines, artwork, fashion and family adventures, there's something for everyone.

Be sure to check back on your favourite items - bidding often heats up in the final hours!

Auction closes tonight at 8pm, Sunday 9 August

Every bid helps provide nutritious meals and support for people experiencing homelessness.

Bid now- https://galabid.com/thegreatmealappeal

One Step at a Time with SMHOW : Matt's Journey Through HomelessnessFor Matt*, life changed in ways he never expected. Af...
07/08/2026

One Step at a Time with SMHOW : Matt's Journey Through Homelessness

For Matt*, life changed in ways he never expected. After the loss of his mother, Matt moved in to care for his father during his final years. When his father passed away, Matt not only lost a parent but also the home he had been living in. Combined with other complex circumstances, he found himself with nowhere to go, no job and was forced to sleep rough in Melbourne’s CBD.

Facing homelessness was overwhelming, but Matt reached out to our specialist, place-based homelessness service, where he found more than practical assistance; he found people who cared. For almost a year, our team has worked alongside Matt to help him rebuild stability and hope. Through housing case management, emergency relief, nutritious meals, and a welcoming community, he has been able to focus on his wellbeing while navigating the challenges of finding a home. For Matt, having a safe place, a warm meal to come each day has made all the difference and without this service, Matt like many people, wouldn’t know where to go. Recognising that homelessness is about more than just the absence of a home, we have also supported Matt with referrals to programs for his wellbeing including anger management, recovery pathways for substance misuse and mental health services, ensuring he has access to the support he needs to move forward.

By Matt's side throughout this journey has been his loyal companion, a small puppy who we have seen grow, who provides comfort, purpose and unconditional companionship. Our service welcomes both Matt and his dog, Jax, and we continue to provide guidance with vet referrals and training so they can stay together while working towards housing together too.

This Homelessness Week, Matt journey reminds us that homelessness can happen to anyone. With the right support, connection and community, people can begin to rebuild their lives, one step at a time.

*Names have been changed to protect our service users’ identity.

This Homelessness Week, we're thinking about the people we see every day.122,494 people were experiencing homelessness a...
02/08/2026

This Homelessness Week, we're thinking about the people we see every day.

122,494 people were experiencing homelessness at the last Census, and almost 289,000 people were assisted by homelessness services like ours in the past year alone. Behind those numbers are people navigating rental stress, family violence, job loss, and a housing system that's leaving too many behind.

Family and domestic violence remains the leading cause of homelessness, accounting for 4 in 10 people accessing services. And for many, the road back to stability takes longer than it used to, support durations have grown 44% over the past five years.
At St Mary's House of Welcome, our team works alongside people experiencing homelessness to help them find stability, whether that's a hot meal, a safe place to start, or the ongoing support to sustain a home.

This Homelessness Week, we're proud of the work our staff and volunteers do year round, and grateful to everyone who makes it possible.

The wait is over... the Great Meal Appeal Silent Auction is now LIVE! It's time to start bidding on 90+ incredible prize...
31/07/2026

The wait is over... the Great Meal Appeal Silent Auction is now LIVE!

It's time to start bidding on 90+ incredible prizes, including luxury getaways, dining experiences, premium wines, artwork, homewares, wellness packs and so much more!

Every bid helps St Mary's House of Welcome work towards our goal of providing 20,000 nutritious meals for people experiencing homelessness and hardship across Melbourne.

Plus, don't forget to enter our raffle! With fantastic prizes up for grabs, it's another great way to support the Great Meal Appeal while giving yourself the chance to win.

Auction & Raffle close: Sunday 9 August

Start bidding and grab your raffle tickets now: https://app.galabid.com/thegreatmealappeal/items

The Great Meal Appeal is back and this year we plan to raise $20,000 to provide 20,000 nutritious meals for people exper...
29/07/2026

The Great Meal Appeal is back and this year we plan to raise $20,000 to provide 20,000 nutritious meals for people experiencing homelessness and hardship across Melbourne.

To help us reach this target, we're holding an online silent auction from 31 July – 9 August, featuring an incredible collection of prizes generously donated by our wonderful community and local businesses.

Every bid helps St Mary's House of Welcome provide hot nutritious meals for people in our community and during Homelessness Week, your support matters more than ever.

Register now and get ready to bid. 💙
🔗 Register to bid: https://app.galabid.com/thegreatmealappeal/items

A heartfelt thank you to Community Bank Clifton Hill – North Fitzroy for their incredible support of St Mary's House of ...
28/07/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Community Bank Clifton Hill – North Fitzroy for their incredible support of St Mary's House of Welcome over many years.

Through their unique Community Bank model, they have invested almost $80,000 into projects that have strengthened our services and helped us support people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and social isolation.

Their support has contributed to a range of initiatives, including our Welcome Relief Meals Program, COVID-19 response and recovery, community reintegration programs, and facility and garden upgrades. These efforts help us provide practical support, dignity and connection to those who need it most.

Community Bank Clifton Hill – North Fitzroy's support is made possible by the local people who choose to bank with them. Such investments into local organisations and projects help strengthen our community.

We're incredibly grateful for this longstanding partnership and for Community Bank Clifton Hill - North Fitzroy's commitment to helping our community thrive.


Do you have shopping bags at home that you're not using? We're in need again, our supply has run low!We need reusable, p...
24/07/2026

Do you have shopping bags at home that you're not using? We're in need again, our supply has run low!

We need reusable, paper or plastic bags to distribute emergency food hampers to our rough sleeping community members.

If you're able to help, please drop off your contribution at our reception desk:
Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm
Saturday, 8:30am to 11:30am
165-169 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

Thank you for supporting those in need, your generosity makes a real difference.

Address

165-169 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy, VIC
3065

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4pm
Friday 8:30am - 4pm
Saturday 8:15am - 12pm

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