{"id":22101,"date":"2021-06-06T06:37:09","date_gmt":"2021-06-06T01:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/internet.wesleymission.org.au\/?get-involved=wesley-edward-eagar-centre-appeal"},"modified":"2022-12-09T13:57:56","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T02:57:56","slug":"wesley-edward-eagar-centre-appeal","status":"publish","type":"get-involved","link":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/get-involved\/donate\/wesley-edward-eagar-centre-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Wesley Edward Eagar Centre Appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Donate now\u00a0to help Wesley Mission change lives\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>

Did you know that the total number of Australians who are homeless has now increased to over 116,000 women, men and children every night? Lack of affordable housing, an escalation in mental illness, family violence, and the financial difficulties\u00a0<\/span>made worse by\u00a0<\/span>COVID-19, are all adding to the problem.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Wesley Edward Eagar Centre has been part of the fabric of the inner-city community of Surry Hills since the 1970s, supporting some of the most vulnerable adults in our community. It is also a place of connection, whether it be with community or family, and will continue to offer individual, secure rooms for short-term emergency accommodation whilst supporting their next step forward.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

But just as homelessness is rising, the rooms inside\u00a0<\/span>became tired and old.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The building\u202f<\/span>was<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>worn out, making it harder for us to help those in need. While we\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>preserve<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0its heritage\u202ffeatures, the reconfigured facility will allow us to improve the way we provide hope and dignity to\u202fpeople experiencing homelessness, like Vince and Zehra.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0Read Vince\u2019s moving story here<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0read Zehra\u2019s triumphant\u00a0story here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

Dedicated spaces for triage in the building will also enable us to launch a new model of care. Clients will engage in an expert approach where a qualified staff member will assess their needs, build rapport and trust, then link them to a full range of wrap-around support services on site \u2013 from trauma counselling to Centrelink outreach<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

This major upgrade comes at a significant cost, that is why we have launched our Wesley\u00a0Edward Eagar Centre appeal.<\/strong><\/b>\u00a0A centre that will continue to provide a safe place, restore hope and dignity, all of which can go a long way to breaking the cycle of homelessness.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Please support our appeal, your generosity and help will improve how we provide dignity, strength and shelter for the growing numbers of people like Zehra experiencing homelessness each year because every life matters.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Vince and Zehra\u2019s story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Vince\u2019s journey<\/h3>

Every night was unbearably cold. Vince would huddle in his crowded tent, which he shared with four other men, beneath the light rail tunnels at Wentworth Park.<\/p>

\u201cI thought I was going to be on the streets for the rest of my life,\u201d Vince says.<\/p><\/blockquote>

But in a moment, that all shifted. \u201cI was lucky that Wesley Mission came along, and they changed all that for me,\u201d he shares.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Vince will always remember that day. He woke to a commotion in the park. There he met Rob from Wesley Mission, who invited him to stay at Wesley Edward Eagar Centre.<\/p>

Vince vividly recalls that long walk from Wentworth Park to Wesley Edward Eagar Centre in Surry Hills. \u201cIt was raining heavily, and I got to the lodge and I was soaked. It was so good to have a hot shower and a hot meal. I was very grateful.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

While finally safe and comfortable, finding Vince a permanent roof over his head proved to be challenge. Ten years ago, Vince lost contact with his daughter after travelling through a messy divorce. But driven by love for his daughter, Vince invested his divorce settlement into a property, which he put into a Trust under his daughter\u2019s name.<\/p>

\u201cYears ago, I had a problem with addiction and I think if I\u2019d kept that money, I would\u2019ve blown it,\u201d he shares. \u201cI love my daughter so much and I just wanted to leave something for her.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

While admirable, it meant Vince had nothing left to build a life for himself. And his property investment limited his ability to access housing support. Unable to afford the property\u2019s mortgage payments, he needed to source rental income. But that left Vince without a home. So, he ended up on the streets.<\/p>

While a unique situation, our team began navigating through Vince\u2019s legal housing issues. And after eight months at Wesley Edward Eagar Centre, Vince was offered a transitional home in Sydney\u2019s inner suburbs.<\/p>

Thanks to your generosity, two years later, we finally found a place Vince can permanently call home.<\/p>

\u201cThe last 10 years have been a struggle for me and I didn\u2019t ever think that I\u2019d end up where I am today, but I do have to thank Wesley Mission. Their support and their interaction with me and helping me with housing, I couldn\u2019t have done that by myself,\u201d Vince says.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClick to read Zehra's story<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t