But we cannot do this alone, and this year again we were buoyed by the collective action of our community of stakeholders who, with compassion, support our work, share our message, and stand with women. Our Commitment Moving Forward Looking forward, our purpose remains clear. The women we support are the reason we exist. Their strength, resilience and courage inspires us daily. We will continue to respond, evolve, and advocate for all women to have a safe place to call home, and the opportunity to live a life of dignity, connection, hope and courage.
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.
Addressing the Rise in Mental Health Needs As we respond to crisis, we also recognise the growing complexity of women’s needs. We are seeing a significant increase in the number of women seeking support for mental health challenges. The trauma of homelessness, compounded by violence and poverty, often leaves women feeling isolated, anxious, and overwhelmed. Our response has been to expand partnerships and service offerings, provide women with more opportunities to be linked with the support they need, and the brokerage to remove financial barriers to achieving key goals to keep them moving forward. Our focus is to ensure that every woman who walks through our doors is met with understanding, patience, and professional support.
Advocacy and Systemic Change
and Sexual Violence. These sessions were raw, honest, and necessary. They reminded us that meaningful reform begins with listening, and women must be central to the solutions we create. Through these platforms and our ongoing public education about women’s experiences of homelessness, we continue to challenge the misconception that homelessness stems from personal failure. We educate the community that it is the result of intersecting systemic issues — violence, poverty, mental health, and critically, the failure of housing policy over decades. It is vital that the women we support understand this truth: you are not homeless because you failed. Creating Change Catherine House is more than a service — it is a movement toward justice, dignity, and equity for women.
Beyond direct support, we advocate for systemic change. Our advocacy work is central to our mission. This year, the ‘What Women Hold’ exhibition was held — a powerful collaboration with the Art Bus and over 20 women supported by Catherine House. Through painting, textiles, and installation, women shared stories of trauma, resilience, and recovery. The exhibition was not just a showcase; it was a call to action. It invited the public to see the real faces and voices behind homelessness and challenged the community to understand its causes and consequences. We also convened listening sessions as part of the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family
Deirdre Flynn Manager Client Services
21 | Annual Report
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