Finding Hope and Home

At the Nagle Centre, Tony reflects on his challenging journey to find a place to call home.

Tony’s troubles began at a caravan park where he faced eviction. Leaving on his own terms, he went to various transitional properties, unable to find the stability he was requiring at the time. He finally moved to the Nagle Centre in Albury where he found in Vinnies the support he had been looking for.

His home is part of the Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF), a program providing over 500 homes in 12 locations operated by the Society across the state. Whilst providing access to homes to people who need them most, residents like Tony receive tailored help for their individual needs, allowing them to achieve their goals. Vinnies has changed Tony’s life as he now has a safe and stable place to live.

One of the more meaningful aspects of his life at the Nagle Centre is the support he receives from the community. On Tuesday nights, residents receive meals that students from local schools prepare as part of an initiative to help those in need, “everybody comes in and gets a meal. It’s great!,” Tony says, appreciating the effort behind the service.

Looking back, Tony feels immense gratitude for Vinnies. “It means everything to me,” he says. They have given him not just a place to live, but a home. A place that provides stability amidst the uncertainty of life. Through Vinnies, Tony has regained a sense of purpose, independence, and most importantly, hope.