Matthew Talbot Hostel is a well-known shelter and support service provider for homeless men, operating since 1938, in central Sydney, Australia. It is located at 22 Talbot Place,
Woolloomooloo
Woolloomooloo ( ) is a harbourside, inner-city eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Woolloomooloo is 1.5 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney. It is in ...
.
History
The Matthew Talbot Hostel was founded by the
St Vincent de Paul Society
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP or SVdP or SSVP) is an international voluntary organization in the Catholic Church, founded in 1833 for the sanctification of its members by personal service of the poor.
Innumerable Catholic parishes have ...
in 1938 and started its mission with 11 beds and 100 meals a day.
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954) is an Australian former politician and businessman who served as the 29th prime minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018. He held office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.
Turnbull gra ...
( Prime Minister of Australia
The Matthew Talbot Hostel: more than just a bed and a meal
16 October 2015.
It was dedicated, as a hostel for "friendless" men, on 25 October 1938 by Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney,
Norman Gilroy
Sir Norman Thomas Gilroy (22 January 1896 – 21 October 1977) was an Australian bishop. He was the first Australian-born cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.
Early life and priestly ministry
Gilroy was born in Sydney, to working-class par ...
. It was named after Dublin dockworker and reformed alcoholic,
Matt Talbot
Matt Talbot (2 May 1856 – 7 June 1925) was an Irish ascetic revered by many Catholics for his piety, charity and mortification of the flesh.
Talbot was a manual labourer. Though he lived alone for most of his life, Talbot did live with his ...
.
By 1944 the hostel was providing 1,600 free meals a week.
The hostel was first located at the St. John's Church building on Kent Street.
It transferred from its original Kent Street location to
Ozanam House in Young Street in December 1952.
Mission
The hostel helps men over the age of 21 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The employees are trained in several disciplines. In time of crisis they offer to help and support the affected people. The guests receive meals (the hostel serves around 620 hot meals each day), access to sanitary facilities, clothing, and basic medical. Furthermore, the hostel offers a case management, legal and housing support, as well as advocacy and special care for people with sleeping rough and trauma. Each year more than 35,000 men profit from the offer.
Complementarily, the
Ozanam Learning Centre Ozanam is a surname, and may refer to:
* Jacques Ozanam (16401717), French mathematician;
* Frédéric Ozanam (181353), founder of Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP or SVdP or SSVP) is an international volu ...
offers diverse programs for men and women over 18 during the day.
The Hostel
Altogether, the hostel holds 98 beds.
It also has room and space for further occupations. The hostel has an art space for creatively gifted persons and a gym to convey community-building values. In the computer room, useful skills are taught to facilitate re-entry into society. In the barbershop, people are helped to restore their appearance. The kitchen is used as a place to learn more about cooking and nutrition.
References
Hostels in Australia
Residential buildings in Sydney
1938 establishments in Australia
Homeless shelters in Australia
Sydney central business district
Charities based in Australia
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