Haven Home Safe

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Today marks the final day of National Reconciliation Week and Mabo Day. Today, on Mabo Day (June 3rd), we recognise the ...
02/06/2026

Today marks the final day of National Reconciliation Week and Mabo Day.

Today, on Mabo Day (June 3rd), we recognise the extraordinary legacy of Eddie Koiki Mabo and the landmark High Court decision in 1992 that overturned the legal fiction of terra nullius and acknowledged the enduring connection of First Nations peoples to Country. The Mabo decision was a watershed moment in Australian history; it paved the way for subsequent native title claims. The Australian Parliament passed the Native Title Act 1993 the following year.

While National Reconciliation Week may come to a close today, our commitment to learning, listening and taking meaningful action must continue all year round.

Last week, we had the privilege of hosting an internal event featuring a conversation with three First Nations renters. They generously shared their experiences of seeking support, housing, and their journeys as Haven Home Safe renters.

Their stories provided valuable insights, challenged our thinking and offered fresh perspectives on how we can continue to improve the way we support and engage with First Nations clients and communities.

We thank them for their honesty, generosity and willingness to share their lived experience. Their voices remind us that reconciliation is not a destination, but an ongoing practice of listening, learning and walking together.

As National Reconciliation Week concludes, we remain committed to strengthening our understanding, deepening relationships and continuing the work towards a more equitable future.

We have moved. Our Preston office is now closed. Our Homeless Intake team providing IAP support have moved from Preston...
01/06/2026

We have moved. Our Preston office is now closed.
Our Homeless Intake team providing IAP support have moved from Preston to the Epping Community Services Hub. We’re excited to be working from the Hub where other organisations also deliver a broad range of community services. This co-location will strengthen collaboration and enable more effective warm referrals, improving outcomes for our clients.

Our tenancy and property team are also getting ready to transition to a new office. During this move, we’re asking existing renters to please contact their tenancy and property manager directly via phone or email with any questions or enquiries they have.

This week our CEO and Head of Impact joined other leaders for the (BWNS) CEO Sleep Out. Here they experienced firsthan...
29/05/2026

This week our CEO and Head of Impact joined other leaders for the (BWNS) CEO Sleep Out.

Here they experienced firsthand the BWNS and critical role it plays for people experiencing rough sleeping, hearing from the incredible volunteers who make the shelter possible.

The Bendigo Winter Nights Shelter is a program close to the heart of Haven Home Safe.

Our Program Coordinator Nayomi is on the board and a member of the operations committee. We have also had countless staff members volunteer over the years and many of our clients who experience rough sleeping have benefited from the connection, warm meals, showers and a place to sleep during Bendigo’s bitterly cold winters.

The shelter operates during the winter season when cold temperatures increase the risks associated with sleeping rough. It is run by volunteers and funded by donations – this allows the program to be designed to meet people where they are at.

We know the importance and benefit that programs such as the BWNS provide to our community and people experiencing rough sleeping.

Our Rough Sleeper Assertive Outreach Program (RSAP) team will be supporting BWNS a few nights each week at the bus meeting point, ensuring anyone attending the BWNS for the first time has someone they know to greet them. They will also provide an extra set of hands for the volunteers at this important part of the evening process.

Over the program months the BWNS works alongside local agencies and outreach services to help connect guests with longer-term housing and support options where possible. Last year the shelter supported 54 people across the program with 5 people finding permanent accommodation.

Thank you to the BWNS board, volunteers and donors who make this important program available for people in the Bendigo community. 💙

Yesterday's 's Conversations That Matter brought together the ambitious energy of , the dedicated passion of people work...
28/05/2026

Yesterday's 's Conversations That Matter brought together the ambitious energy of , the dedicated passion of people working on the frontline from and .community alongside a lived experience advocate who shared their reality of having nowhere safe to live.

At the core of their message was that human kindness can make all the difference, homelessness is solvable because we can do hard things, and the most resilient people are those experiencing housing instability - because they have no other option but to push through.

We don't all have to run across Australia to drive change, it can start with a compassionate conversation with someone doing it tough, donating to an organisation that is making a difference or advocating to policy makers that more needs to be done - more housing, better income support and targeted prevention. Thanks so much to for hosting us, it was a pleasure to be in a room of people wanting change.

Today we recognise National Sorry Day. This year’s theme is: From Sorry to Action. The call is clear, we must move from ...
26/05/2026

Today we recognise National Sorry Day. This year’s theme is: From Sorry to Action.

The call is clear, we must move from words to action, and this needs to happen now, not in another decade. Acknowledging past harm is important, but acting to address it is critical. Sorry signals compassion; action delivers justice.

With First Nations people disproportionately impacted by housing insecurity and homelessness, we are continually working to exceed the First Nations tenancy targets of 10% by building partnerships that can deliver more culturally safe housing for First Nations Peoples.

This year so far we have seen over 500 First Nations people through our intake and supports services across the state, this is part of the ongoing consequence of dispossession, forced removal, and the destruction of family and community bonds that these policies (that continued until the 1970’s) caused.

We encourage you to mark National Sorry Day on 26 May, and to stand with First Nations People to ensure this day is part of an ongoing commitment to truth-telling and healing.

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Yesterday we had the pleasure of welcoming the Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters MP to officially open our Safe...
22/05/2026

Yesterday we had the pleasure of welcoming the Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters MP to officially open our Safe Places development in Bendigo.

The three, 3-bedroom townhouses built by Burbank Urban will provide housing for women and children who have experienced family or domestic violence. There was not a dry eye in the room when our partners Annie North Inc and the Centre for Non Violence explained what these homes are going to mean for the women and children they support.

Haven Home Safe is so proud that the land we provided for this development will have such an enormous and long-lasting impact. These homes are a testament to the outcomes we can have when we work together.

A huge thank you to the Australian Government – The Treasury for 2.5 million in funding support for this development through the Treasury’s Safe Places grants.

Thank you to all our partners and supporters who were able to attend the event Lisa Chesters MP , Annie North Inc , Centre for Non Violence , Burbank Urban and representatives of Jactinta Allan's office.

Learn more about the event here: https://havenhomesafe.org.au/much-needed-housing-delivered-for-women-and-children-who-have-experienced-family-violence/

This IDAHOBIT* Day, we stand together against discrimination and for inclusion, safety and belonging for LGBTQIA+ commun...
17/05/2026

This IDAHOBIT* Day, we stand together against discrimination and for inclusion, safety and belonging for LGBTQIA+ communities.

LGBTQIA+ Australians are estimated to be at least twice as likely to experience homelessness. At Haven Home Safe, we believe everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and valued - at home, at work and in the community.

Today is a reminder that even small actions matter. Listening, learning, speaking up and showing support all help create more inclusive spaces for everyone.
Happy IDAHOBIT Day 🌈

*IDAHOBIT = International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia.

As Australia awaits this week’s Federal Budget, we’re excited for the promise of a budget that will address intergenerat...
11/05/2026

As Australia awaits this week’s Federal Budget, we’re excited for the promise of a budget that will address intergenerational inequity. We hope to see bold policy announcements and ongoing funding commitments that address our growing housing and homelessness crisis, for both current and future generations.

Our recent research paper with Cushman & Wakefield highlights the scale of the challenge and the urgent need for tailored intervention to ensure all Australians can access safe, affordable and appropriate housing.
Our research found that:
- Australia will need 640,000 new social housing dwellings by 2041, requiring an estimated $183 billion investment.
- By 2031, the number of renters aged 65 and over is projected to increase by 95%, as more Australians enter retirement as permanent renters.
- The number of low-income renters aged 50+ is expected to almost double across many regional and peri-urban communities.

Without meaningful action and commitment, housing insecurity will increasingly become a lifelong reality for many Australians.

Read the full research paper here:https://havenhomesafe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Rebalancing-Australias-housing-mismatch_CushmanWakefield-and-HHS.pdf

Yesterday in Preston, something special happened. Our team brought together a range of local support services to create ...
08/05/2026

Yesterday in Preston, something special happened.

Our team brought together a range of local support services to create a welcoming afternoon where clients could access practical help, enjoy some food, connect with others and even receive a free haircut.

A huge thank you to our amazing Client Engagement team, Ruby and Margaret, for organising such a meaningful event, and to our partners and volunteers: Safe Steps, DIVRS, La Trobe Nurses, Bolton Clarke Nurses, and Beau from La Poubelle Hair Studios, who generously volunteered his time to provide free haircuts for clients.

The impact of simple acts of kindness was clear throughout the day. One attendee shared: “I wasn’t going to come, but I’m glad I did, it’s really lifted my mood.”
Another client spoke about how safe and comfortable they felt while getting their haircut. For one person, it was their very first haircut.

These moments may seem small, but they can make a world of difference.

Thank you to Darebin City Council for supporting our work in placemaking and everyone who contributed to making the day so meaningful.

Address

10-16 Forest Street
Bendigo, VIC
3550

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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+611300428364

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