Perfect weather draws families for fundraiser

On a glorious Sydney Spring Day, they came to run, play and eat, but most of all help those all too many families struggling to make ends meet.

Families flocked to the Day at the Bay fundraiser to help people struggling to survive.

The St Merkorious Charity annual fundraiser, Day at the Bay in Leichhardt, attracted the early risers with a fun run, but as the day progressed hundreds of families poured in to enjoy the activities and lunch.

The Charity, which started in the kitchen of Founder Paula Nicolas, now feeds thousands of people every week from its commercial kitchen, with the help of an army of volunteers.

The PAYCE Foundation has been a long-term sponsor of the charity and was again the major partner at this year’s Day at the Bay.

Paula said: “In these challenging times, the demand for our services has never been higher. Families are struggling to make ends meet, and the need for food security is at an all-time high.”

“By participating in the walk, you’re not just enjoying a beautiful day outdoors; you’re playing a crucial role in helping to keep Sydney families fed, happy, and hopeful.”

And the Charity’s supporters did not let them down.

(left to right) St Merkorious Founder Paula Nicholas, PAYCE Foundation Director Talal Ghattas, Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-Sen Li and Mayor of Burwood Council Cr John Faker.

PAYCE Foundation director Dominic Sullivan said St Merkorious was delivering help to those people who have fallen through the cracks.

“It is a remarkable success story, and sadly without the support of Paula and her wonderful team, there are literally thousands of people who would go without the basics of a life.

“They make a huge difference and that is why we support them every year.”

Food trailer brings help to Riverwood

In a sign of how tough life has become for too many people in our community, more than 200 people turned out in Riverwood, in Sydney’s south-west for a meal, snack packs and toiletries.

Food trailer delivers support for the vulnerable in Riverwood.

The PAYCE Foundation donated a retro, fully fitted food trailer to the St John the Baptist Antiochian Orthodox Church to assist people struggling on the streets.

The regular event is a collaboration with St John the Baptist, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, the Riverwood Community Centre and the NSW Department of Communities.

The van donation by the PAYCE Foundation follows the donation of several vans to other charities.

People are also given support to other services if required.

The latest census data shows the median weekly household income in Riverwood – population 12,793 – was $1210, two-thirds of the NSW median of $1829.

Thirty per cent of households had a weekly income below $650.

PAYCE Foundation director Dominic Sullivan said the mobile van could bring support to areas where it was most needed.

“The demand for assistance is clear here with the number of people who turned out,” he said.

“It is not just about the meals, but an opportunity for people to connect, and if required receive further assistance.”

The service will run fortnightly for the next six months.

Vinnies food van rolls into Liverpool to assist homeless

If you need proof that the pressure of high rents and cost of living is taking a toll, then take a trip to Liverpool where, according to Vinnies, demand for its services and support has skyrocketed in recent months.

The PAYCE Foundation-donated food trailer bringing support to those struggling to survive.

Vinnies say more people are sleeping rough, are disconnected from services and require urgent care for complex health issues.

The Vinnies van rolled into Liverpool to provide food, conversation and support during Homelessness Week.

The PAYCE Foundation generously donated the fully fitted out food trailer, giving the charity the mobility to bring services where they are most needed.

The event, also sponsored by the Liverpool City Council, attracted more than 60 clients keen for great coffee and food, but also a chat and support.

“We’ve really seen the demand increase where there is not a lot of services to assist the homeless and those living rough,” Josephine Charbel, state manager of Van Services for Vinnies.

“Many of the people we see are isolated and it is a great highlight for them when the van as they call it comes to them.

“It is a highly effective way of bringing services to where they are needed most, not just food and drink, but support with wrap around services.

“It provides support, but also dignity and that’s what Vinnies is all about.”

PAYCE Foundation director Dominic Sullivan said it was pleasing to see the van delivering critical support to those struggling for the basics in life.

“We donated the van to Vinnies because they were committed to reaching out to homeless people who are doing it extremely tough, in areas not well-serviced, particularly during this long, cold winter.”

Digital tool unlocking the door to a new life

When it comes to the homeless, there is no one stop shop. It is a challenge, government, non-government agencies and charities have been grappling with for decades.

But that’s changing thanks to the End Street Sleeping Collaboration (ESCC) and Sydney Zero – a group of organisations determined to break the cycle of homelessness.

Sydney Zero is an action-orientated, collaborative project to make rough sleeping rare, brief and non-recurring in Inner Sydney.

The City of Sydney, the Department of Communities and Justice, homelessness services and philanthropists have come together to implement the Sydney Zero project.

The PAYCE Foundation is the founding philanthropic partner of the ESSC.

According to ESSC Director Dominic Sullivan, a game-changer is the ESSC digital tool, the By-Name List.

“It is a digital app, which allows frontline works to help people by recording accurately, with their permission, exactly what assistance they require,” he said.

“It is proving invaluable, as the information is critical to finding the assistance for people with complex needs.”

ESSC Director Dominic Sullivan.

The ESSC says Sarah (not her real names) is a good example of someone receiving the assistance they need.

She first came to the attention of agencies and community organisations while staying in government-funded temporary housing in Wollongong.

Sarah displayed signs of paranoia and refused to provide the sort of information needed for the temporary housing to be extended. Sarah returned to rough sleeping.

For the next nine months, Sarah was trying alone to navigate the complexities of the system whilst experiencing complex mental health and trauma.

During this period, Sarah spent more than a year sleeping on the streets or in crisis accommodation and had no connection to health services and support.

Sarah began engaging with services again in Wollongong and, for the first time, provided consent to having personal information added to the By-Name List.

Sarah was then referred to five different housing, homelessness and health services.

This identified the health support that Sarah required.

Two months later, and whilst still sleeping rough, Sarah moved from Wollongong to Sydney and presented at a homelessness service in Newtown.

Sarah’s information and history of homelessness could be identified quickly from the By-Name List.

A collaboration of services combined to provide Sarah with temporary accommodation and case management support.

Because this need was so clear from the By-Name List, Sarah was admitted to hospital for mental health treatment and was then supported by a mental health outreach program.

Once Sarah’s mental health was stabilised, the case management team supporting Sarah found that Sarah had family and her own home on the NSW north coast.

She was assisted to return home and was reconnected with her family after six months.

In all, ten services across two districts supported Sarah over a period of eight months.

Mr Sullivan said: “By having personal information on the BNL – and despite moving locations — Sarah’s support needs were provided, creating conditions for the best outcome to be identified and fulfilled for her in a timely way.”

Memorial remembers the passing of the homeless

They may not have been known, but the sad passing of those who live on the streets was not forgotten on a bitingly cold evening in Martin Place on June 21.

More than 100 people turned out for the Homeless Persons’ Memorial on the shortest day of the year – the winter solstice – to pay respect to those who have died while homeless.

Over 100 Sydneysiders at Martin Place for Memorial Service held on the Winter Solstice.

The memorial, now in its fourth year, is supported by community organisations and charities, including the PAYCE Foundation, the End Street Sleeping Collaboration, Archdiocese of Sydney’s Justice and Peace Office, Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria, and the St Vincent de Paul Society.

“We’re here tonight to love them, to know them, and to mourn them. Maybe their names aren’t known to all of us, but we are a people of faith,” said Fr Peter Smith in his opening blessing.

“Our city will never be the great place that it can be until we all reach out to those who are struggling, who are on the margins, those who find life most difficult.”

NSW Minister for Housing Rose Jackson, who also attended the Vinnies CEO sleepout the night before, told the crowd the death of citizens to homelessness “diminishes us all and is a grief to us.”

“They may not have had a fancy funeral or a big memorial service or their name up in lights when they passed, but that doesn’t mean that they were any less significant,” she said.

“We recommit ourselves to recognising their names, recognising their stories, understanding that it isn’t a personal failure to experience homelessness.

“That is a system failure, it’s a policy failure, and those things are in our control.”

NSW Minister for Housing Rose Jackson recognises those who have passed.

Fresh approach needed in the battle to prevent homelessness

The PAYCE Foundation has welcomed a new report on how to tackle homelessness in NSW which recommends a more co-ordinated approach and more emphasis on preventing homelessness.

The Homelessness NSW report launched during Homelessness Week calls for government bodies, service providers, and not-for-profit organisations to ensure a long-term approach to reducing homelessness — making sure it becomes a rare, brief, and non-recurring experience.

It says current efforts were more focused on short-term needs.

Collating data from service providers, policy makers, and advocates through more than 650 interviews, Homelessness NSW acting chief executive Amy Hains said post-pandemic rent rises have inflated rates of homelessness in the state.

The demand for homelessness services has increased by 10 per cent in the past three months, putting increased pressure on the system.

“That’s (due to) spiralling rents, low rental vacancy rates and the rising cost of living, more people are being pushed into homelessness,” Ms Hains told the Daily Telegraph.

NSW Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson, who spoke at the report launch, said her focus would be to increase housing in the state.

“You can’t solve homelessness if you don’t have homes for people to live in and that is the work we will be prioritising,” she said.

“Building homes across our state for people who need them.”

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said one of the findings was the importance of data sharing and the input of people with lived experience.

The PAYCE-Foundation supported End Street Sleeping Collaboration has been highly effective in tackling the core issues causing homelessness using digital data gathered from homeless people on the street.

“The rising number of people now sleeping rough is alarming – now is the time to act and this blueprint from Homelessness NSW is a good plan.”

“The focus on preventing homelessness is also a critical finding of the report.

“The End Street Sleeping Collaboration, with its large number of member organisations, is the perfect vehicle to play a role in tackling the issues identified in the report.”

Steve stands tall as he chases his dream to live drug free

By his own admission, Adele House client Steve* was struggling to beat his addiction to drugs after coming before the NSW Drug Court.

The Salvation Army and Adele House team alongside Senior Judge for the Drug Court of NSW, Her Honour Judge Jane Mottley.

The options were clear, make changes or remain in a life of crime and drug taking.

He started that journey in Sydney, but it was not until he arrived at residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, Adele House near Coffs Harbour that he made real progress.

The $10 million facility, built with funding from the PAYCE Foundation and the NSW Government, and run by the Salvation Army, is delivering exceptional results.

Steve, who is just weeks away, from completing the program stood before 200 people at the recent Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (NADA) “Creating Safe Spaces” conference in Sydney and told his story.

As he pointed out he was not accustomed to public speaking he received a rousing reception, recognition of his achievements.

“When I first arrived at Adele, I was blown away by the state-of-the-art facilities, the support from staff was genuine and everyone was very welcoming when I arrived.

“The staff have a great wealth of knowledge, with a lot of them having their own passed lived experiences.
“They carry out their duties in a professional manner and they genuinely care about the client’s recovery journey.”

Steve has made every post a winner since he arrived at Adele, not only completing the program, but also working at Adele Training Farm – a PAYCE Foundation social enterprise where blueberries and blackberries are commercially grown.

The farm profits help fund the operations at Adele House.

He also found time to study at TAFE – has almost finished a Certificate IV in Community Services, with a mission to help other men overcome their addiction to drugs and alcohol.

His life today is a far cry from one beholden to addiction and crime.

But for Steve, the best is yet to come.

*Not his real name.

Jose rejoicing in his new life

When Jose Porcia arrived at drug rehabilitation centre, Adele House he was in the grip of a 13-year Ice addiction that had cost him everything.

Jose Porcia – now working hard to help people in the local community.

“I was walking through Sydney Airport to catch my flight to Coffs Harbour to Adele House for the substance abuse program with a garbage bag of clothes that did not even belong to me,” Jose said.

“I looked at everyone else with their luggage and they were happy, and I was so ashamed.”

Within two years of taking up Ice, Jose had drained his savings, lost his job, become homeless and alienated family and friends as he became desperate to do anything to get his hands on the money to fund his habit.

“I fell in love with Ice and the feeling it gave me, so after just three months I was in touch with the dealer, and then I would leave work in the middle of the day to drive from the CBD to Rosehill near Parramatta to spend the entire day there,” Jose told the Daily Telegraph.

“Within six months, I was spending $1000 a week and it was all fine until I ran out of savings.”
“It ruined my life,” he said.

Jose was facing the real prospect of spending the rest of his life in out of jail as he tried to feed his habit with crime.

He was given a chance – the NSW Drug Court gave him the option of entering the rehabilitation program at Adele House.

The Drug Court is a specialist court that provides an alternative to prison for eligible participants with drug dependencies.

He smashed his phone to eliminate the temptation of getting in touch with any dealers or former connections and spent 11 months in rehab at Adele House.

“One day at a time, I got clean, and I did everything they asked me to do, and I never went back to Sydney,” he said.

“The first day I went back to Sydney was to go to the Drug Court in front of Judge Dive on the day of graduation.

Since leaving Adele House seven years ago, which is funded by the PAYCE Foundation and operated by the Salvation Army, Jose has dedicating his life to helping others.

He is now a dedicated soldier at the Salvation Army, Coffs Harbour and he’s been using his lived experience to help with anti-drug campaigns.

He was also on hand when the PAYCE Foundation donated a food trailer to the Salvation Army in Coffs Harbour which is on the road, delivering food to the rising number of homeless people in the area.

Jose, who appreciates the support he received at Adele House, is healthy and happy and looking to continue his work assisting people.

“By sharing if I can help someone else, it is all worth it.”

PAYCE Director Dominic Sullivan said: “Jose is an excellent example of what can be achieved by a person who gets the right help, at the right time, to beat a drug habit.”

“It is wonderful to see that Jose is not only living a good life but making an outstanding contribution to the local community through his work.”

PAYCE Foundation donated food van hits the road

A food van donated by the PAYCE Foundation to the Salvation Army has hit the road in Coffs Harbour to help people in need.

First stop was the Coffs Farmers Market.

The PAYCE Foundation has had a long association with the Salvation Army and its local Pastor Major Andrew van Gaalen.

“It’s a ripper of a van, in the style of the classic Jet Stream design, and is a fantastic donation,” Andrew told local newspaper News Of The Area.

With a dream of having the van out every day of the week at targeted locations of known need, the van is starting off with its Farmers Market gig on Thursdays and Friday nights at The Jetty.

“There’s a lot of people down at The Jetty who, for a variety of reasons, are currently homeless,” said Andrew.

“We will start off with van visits on Friday evenings so they can go into the weekend with a warm hearty meal inside them,” he said.

“Some people are without a home because they like that lifestyle, but there’s a whole new cohort who cannot afford rent prices and the high cost of living.

“They don’t like the lifestyle, but for some there is a sense of shame and embarrassment around accessing services.

“Some rents are high, people have been released from their tenancies, all these people who find themselves in a disadvantaged position have different reasons for being there, but one thing they all have in common is that they are homeless,” said Andrew.

The way the food service works is through a chain of links.

Coffs Harbour Salvos has close connections with the Adele House rehabilitation centre in Bucca which is funded by the PAYCE Foundation.

“They have a beautiful vegie garden of freshly growing produce, which is harvested for chef Neville and his team to cook up into meals.

“We are serving the meals as well as cooking onboard the van.”

Kitted out with a deep fryer, grill, pie warmer, fridges, microwave and a coffee machine, the van is a kitchen-on-the-go.

“We are hoping to purchase rice cookers and a soup cooker,” he said.

Drivers of the food van project, Benn and Andy, with a long connection to Coffs Salvos, are in charge of getting the vehicle to its various vantage points.

“Being seen is an important part of this launch,” said Andrew.

“Getting the word out that the Salvos food van is now serving meals to the homeless means setting up in public places near where homeless people frequent; they can see us and we’re there for them.”

There’s a roster of volunteers already signed up to support the service.

To grow the offering Coffs Salvation Army needs more volunteers not only to serve meals but also to drive the van.

“We will need drivers of vehicles with a two-tonne towing capacity,” said Andrew.

To support the Salvos food van the business community of Coffs Harbour is being asked to connect with Andrew Van Gaalen.

“We are seeking a main sponsor for the van, on-going funding, donations and we always welcome help-in-kind from trades and business partners in the city.

“To achieve our dream of a daily/nightly service, the van requires a lot of personnel,” said Andrew.

Stand Tall inspires students to live a happy and healthy life

An inspirational line-up of speakers had hundreds of students, keen to learn more about mental health, mesmerised during this year’s Stand Tall event at the International Convention Centre on June 8.

The Stand Tall Event was founded in 2012 in response to the tragic level of drug use, depression, bullying, hopelessness and self-harm among high school students.

A photo from last years event in action at the International Convention Centre Sydney. Source: Stand Tall Website\

The event brings a host of speakers together to arm them with the skills of resilience, the strength to stand up to bullying, the keys to motivation, the power of perspective and the benefits of making wise decisions.

This year’s line up included rugby league star Nicho Hynes who is dedicated to assisting young people with their mental health and music sensation Timomatic.

Ambassador and former Paralympian Joany Badenhorst said: “The vibe and energy following this year’s event was absolutely infectious, you could feel the student’s emotions rising from the inspiring stories of all the speakers.”

“The energy and passion of the music squad, especially Timomatic, is always a fan favourite.”

As Australia’s premier female Para-snowboarder, Joany won silver and bronze medals in three consecutive Women’s Para-snowboarding World Championships.

Joany, who hosted the live stream event said: “How fantastic it was to interview the 2023 Stand Tall line-up for the thousands of students online and on 7Plus and open-up on some fun and thought-provoking questions.

“It was an honour to be amongst such beautiful and inspiring people. I am forever grateful to the PAYCE Foundation who continues to support me and my work within such an incredible community.”

Stand Tall will be returning to the regions this year, with an event scheduled for Tamworth on November 17.