the women we support Deirdre Flynn
We believe every woman is worthy, just as she is, and that she holds immense potential.
Centring the Women We Support
We respond with care that is intentional, holistic, and aspirational. We don’t just provide a warm bed and nutritious food — we offer a pathway. A way forward. A place to begin again. We believe every woman is worthy, just as she is, and that she holds immense potential. Our role is to create an environment that nurtures her potential, where she feels safe to rebuild, reconnect, and re-imagine her future. Our practice wisdom is steeped in history, shaped by 37 years of walking with women as they move from surviving to thriving. We work at their pace, honouring their experiences, and supporting them to reconnect with education, employment, family, and most importantly, themselves. We make contagious the power of possibility. Our support is not transactional, it is transformational. We help women change their relationship with themselves, restoring dignity and rebuilding identity. Our care is healing, with boundaries. Our exchanges are honest, validating, and hopeful. We lead with compassion and fairness, always holding front of mind the privilege and responsibility we carry in this work.
Women who seek out and use our services are at the heart of all we do. They are in our planning, our strategy, our motivation, our advocacy, and our inspiration. Every decision we make, every partnership we form, and every service we deliver is shaped by their courage, needs, and lived experiences. At Catherine House, we are privileged to walk alongside women navigating some of life’s most complex and confronting challenges — homelessness, trauma, domestic, family and sexual violence, poverty, and mental health distress. We do not define women by their circumstances. They are defined by their strength, resilience, and determination to reclaim their lives.
The Impact of the Housing Crisis
A Personal Reflection on Homelessness This question became personal when I considered participating in a homelessness awareness challenge for a partner organisation, sleeping in my car for ten days. I imagined the logistics: where to park, how to stay safe, how to maintain dignity, where to keep my clothes, how to turn up to work as normal, so that nobody was aware I was living out of my car. The thought of it was overwhelming. Living it would be a hundred times worse. That reflection still stays with me. Because the truth is, you cannot exist without a home. Without it, shame and fear take root. And yet, this is the reality for so many women we support. I am still left with a mix of feelings – mostly that I had not been prepared to do this, and what did that mean.
Among the most pressing challenges is the housing crisis. This year, the urgency of our mission deepened. The housing crisis in South Australia continues to escalate, disproportionately affecting women and children. The wait for safe, permanent housing is long and uncertain. And while we wait — for homes to be built, for systems to respond, for policies to shift — the cost is borne by those with the least to give. Society expects women to survive impossible situations. To heal from violence without the stability of a home. To remain employed and to meet education commitments without a home. To stay well, physically and mentally, and to remain connected to family and friends — without a home. With all my knowledge of the housing system, I wonder if I could navigate it, if I were in need.
Our Holistic Response to Emerging Needs
We are a service that listens and responds to the changing needs of women in our community. Needs shaped by the escalating housing crisis, the rising cost of living, and the increasing demand for mental health support.
20 | Catherine House
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