Vinnies Street to Home
Vinnies Street to Home supports people in Canberra who are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness with a strong focus on rough sleepers.
How we help
Vinnies Street to Home (STH) works with individuals or couples who are rough sleeping, couch surfing, or experiencing other forms of homelessness. They provide intensive case management support. STH assists through case management and advocacy to help people secure long‑term housing through ACT Housing, private rentals, or affordable accommodation options. STH does not provide emergency or crisis accommodation.
STH focuses on helping rough sleepers navigate systems if they are eligible such as ACT Housing, Affordable Housing, Centrelink, medical services, and referrals for mental health supports and other supports. STH has access to transitional accommodation located at Oaks Estate or in other high‑density complexes. These vacancies are limited and arise periodically and may involve lengthy wait times with none currently available.
How to get support?
All referrals for support are required to come from a centralised intake point for all homelessness services in the ACT, FIRST Canberra, who can be contacted on 1800 176 468.
For those who are sleeping rough, FIRST Canberra can make a referral to the STH program who will respond when they have capacity. STH support rough sleepers to engage with a range of services to ultimately support them into accommodation.
This process usually takes time due to the complexities of the people sleeping on the street. STH work with people in a trauma informed way that prioritises dignity, choice and ultimately respects the rights of people to engage with the support system or not.
There are significant pressures in the community, and STH need to prioritise how and when they engage with people. For those experiencing rough sleeping, the appropriate accommodation solution can often take time to develop and requires significant engagement from support services.
To respect the privacy of the person that you have referred, we will not be able to report back to you the outcome of this referral.
“Street to Home are the only people who could get through to me. I am starting again, and I don't believe I could have had that without the constant case management and continual support from Street to Home”
Who's New on the Street
The Who’s New on the Street (WNOTS) networking meeting, hosted by the Vinnies Street to Home Program every six weeks, brings together organisations supporting individuals experiencing homelessness to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and address service gaps.
By fostering open communication between outreach teams, housing providers, health services, and community organisations, WNOTS enhances coordination, reduces duplication, and improves outcomes for those on the street.
This platform ensures services remain responsive to emerging challenges while driving advocacy and systemic improvements in homelessness support.
If you would like to join the emailing list to attend these meetings, email streettohome@vinnies-cg.org.au
Supported by
This service is provided by St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn with assistance from the ACT Government and the Commonwealth Government under the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement.