sp_need_organisations

Organisations Helping The Homeless There are many organisations doing whatever they can to help homeless people in Melbourne, they run many different programs to tackle the issues that homeless people face every day. The four organisations we are focusing on are the Melbourne City Mission, Wesley Mission Melbourne, Urban Seed and The Big Issue (on a separate page).

The Melbourne City Mission first started in 1854. Its founders were Dr. John Singleton, a medical practitioner, and Hester Hornbrook, a prominent philanthropist. During the gold rush of Victoria, many men were abandoning their wives and children to make themselves rich and famous in the goldfields. It was during this time when Hornbrook and Singleton provided shelter, healthcare, support and more for these people. For years Hornbrook and Singleton worked tirelessly to raise funds for the once small mission. Today this foundation is known as the Melbourne City Mission. The mission is now run by many staff, and supported by over 30 companies and business including Bendigo Bank, Nova 100 and Mustang. They run many programs including: ** Wesley Mission Melbourne //"People Caring For People" // **  Wesley Mission Melbourne was encouraged by work John Wesley, Father of the Methodism. It first launched in 1893 at the site which it is still at today, next to the Wesley Church on Lonsdale St. It was known as Central Methodist Mission when it was first established. In the 1890's the area around the mission was known as the 'back slums' of Melbourne because it was known for having places of gambling and houses of "ill repute". The mission aimed at assisting people in need, especially those who were victims of abuse, addiction and homelessness.
 * Melbourne City Mission // "Building Inclusive Communities"  // **
 * -** Nursing homes and hotels
 * -** Independent living units for the elderly
 * -** Youth programs
 * -** Childcare facilities
 * -** Services for the disabled
 * -** Crisis accommodation

Today, the mission runs over 55 programs, have employed over 700 staff and have over 2,000 volunteers who help to deliver the 57 services across Melbourne. In 2006-2007, the mission had an operating budget of $38m+ (73% of this was government funded).

They run many programs and services targeting issues behind:

-Youths at risk -The Unemployed -The Elderly -People in Crisis -People with physical and psychological disabilities.
 * Urban Seed // "Engaging Faith, Community & Culture" // **

In 1993, the Urban Seed launched at Collins St Baptist Church, however back then it was known as the Urban Mission Unit. The residential Central House was established in 1995 when 3 interns moved into the church. In the same year Tim Costello was appointed director of the Urban Mission Unit. From 1995 up until today there have been over 70 people who have lived at the Central House. In 2001, the name Urban Mission Unit changed to Urban Seed. This name explains that the organisation gives people a place to build relationships in a community (a place to plant a seed) between the concrete texts of the city.

Today, Urban Seed run many programs including the Credo Cafe, a free lunch service and community bonding program, Credo Cricket, a cricket program for the disadvantaged and much more.

__**Urban seeds Values:***__

//-They are inspired by the love of Jesus Christ.// //-They seek wholeness and transformation in all creation, with priority for the poor.// //-They are committed to small groups living in local communities.// //-They value people in all their diversity and interdependence.// //-They are good stewards of the resources we are given.


 * From the Urban seed Visions and values webpage:// [|//http://www.urbanseed.org/About_Urban_Seed/VisionAndValues.aspx//]



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