Joe  (OR87) volunteers at St Francis House on the overnight shift once a month with his sons, Max (OR2022) and Charlie (OR2024)—an experience that has become both practical and deeply personal. 

Motivated by the idea of the Jesuit philosophy of "being a man for others", Joe saw volunteering as a way to live through his values while contributing in a meaningful way alongside his sons. 

"It was important that I was able to do something with my sons. It has enabled me to spend time with them and also provide an experience to them that is quite unique. We have found that after a shift, we have felt a strong bond." 

Although Joe and his wife had volunteered within the school community and for food programs many years earlier, he had not volunteered with his sons before. "I was a little nervous doing my first overnight shift, however it did not take too long to get into the rhythm. The first shift was also very interesting for my sons as they had very little experience interacting with people experiencing homelessness." 

Their time at St Francis House has exposed them to the realities of homelessness, challenging assumptions and prompting ongoing conversations at home. "There is a feeling of warmth especially with the other volunteers at hand over time. I have learned a lot from the guests of St Francis, and generally it is a friendly environment." 

"We have learned it is very difficult being homeless and the system does not do much to help homeless people … is very difficult for them. It gives us a greater understanding of why it happens in such a wealthy country as Australia." 

Despite occasional restless nights, Joe describes the experience as consistently rewarding: 

"There's warmth here. You learn from the guests, from the other volunteers—and you leave with a different perspective every time. Sometimes I have more time the next day and will spend a little time the next morning cooking breakfast for everyone and getting coffee." 

How to volunteer at St Francis House

St Francis House (Redfern) operating as an overnight shelter, provides a safe space for those otherwise sleeping rough, a bed for the night, the hospitality of a shared meal, and care and companionship offered by our volunteers. 

REFERRALS | Guests need to register with Link2Home on 1800 152 152 to be allocated a bed at St Francis House. Link2Home is an accommodation placement service operated by the NSW Government. 

VOLUNTEERS | Our aim is to open St Francis House as an overnight shelter 7 nights a week, as we steadily grow the number of volunteers needed to support this level of activity. We require reliable volunteers willing to make a regular commitment – say one shift once every 4 weeks. There are two shifts per night, each requiring a minimum of 2 volunteers: 

• Dinner shift from 6pm – 9pm
• Overnight shift from 9pm - 7.30am 

All volunteers are inducted and supported in their role. 

For further information, please email info@cana.org.au.