Thanks to the support of our generous donors and suppliers, over the past 10 years the Mercy Foundation has helped set up a warm and welcoming home for more than 500 households, helping families and individuals to set up a home after a long experience of homelessness. Home in a Box provides everyday items that make a house a home, such as crockery, cutlery, sheets, towels, doonas, pillows, kitchen utensils, a saucepan and frypan, a toaster and a kettle.
The success of this project is due to the dedication and commitment of the service workers, who help people who are chronically homeless find permanent homes and support them to address any challenges that may arise as they restart their lives. We couldn’t continue this project without your support, and the support of our generous suppliers Linen House, Kennards Self Storage, Maxwell & Williams, Hospitality Products, H C Distributors and the Sisters of Mercy North Sydney.
The adjustment from homelessness to living in a home is much more difficult than we can imagine. Homelessness is a traumatising experience, particularly when it is experienced over a considerable period of time. Home in a Box instantly creates a home from which people can restart their lives.
In the last 12 months, 116 Homes in Boxes have been provided to the chronically homeless families and individuals. Recipients include:
- A woman in her 60’s who was homeless after leaving a relationship where she experienced domestic violence
- A 40 year old Aboriginal man who was homeless for 2 years, who is now reunited with his teenage daughter.
- A young Aboriginal woman who was sleeping rough for 4 months.
- A single mother and her daughter who were homeless for 3 years.
- A man who has experienced homelessness since 2015, sleeping rough for the past two years.
- A pregnant woman in her late 30’s, who was homeless for most of her life.
- A 76 year old woman with mobility issues who was couch surfing for many months.
Thank you for your support that has enabled us to meet the growing need, helping more families and individuals to settle into their home and restart their lives.
