The St Vincent de Paul Society & Amélie Housing

For over 130 years the St Vincent de Paul Society has been working in Australia to shape a more just and compassionate society.

The Society is a grass roots organisation with more than 20,736 members and  41,152 volunteers participating in local Conferences where they seek to offer a hand up to those in need. Members do this by respecting the dignity of clients, sharing our hope and encouraging people to take control of their own destiny.

Members have seen firsthand the consequences of the failure of the housing market to provide safe, secure and affordable housing to those on low incomes. Our emergency relief is increasingly aimed at assisting individuals and families secure a home or pay for the basic necessities of life because rent has consumed such a high proportion of their meager income.  https://www.vinnies.org.au/

Amélie Housing was established in NSW by the Society of St Vincent de Paul (Society) in 2012 as a special purpose community housing development and management subsidiary company to complement the activities of the Society in providing charitable services to disadvantaged members of Australian society.

It is a Registered Tier 2 Community Housing Provider under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing. Amélie seeks to “bring hope through housing” to those who are disenfranchised in our society as a consequence of the lack of safe, secure and affordable housing.

Since its establishment in NSW the housing initiatives of the Society in other States have been working together to consider the impact they might have by joining together under a national umbrella organisation. In 2015 both Frederic Ozanam Housing in South Australia and the Society’s Housing Program in the Australian Capital Territory agreed to merge their housing operations with Amélie Housing to form a National Community Housing Provider under the umbrella of Amélie Housing.

Governance and leadership

Amélie Housing is a company limited by guarantee. Its membership is open to State Councils of the St Vincent de Paul Society. Currently there are two members with a third about to join:

  • St Vincent de Paul NSW
  • St Vincent de Paul ACT
  • St Vincent de Paul SA (membership approved, pending change to Constitution)

The Company Board has been appointed by the members on the basis of their commitment to the values and mission of the Society as well as their skills and experience to give strategic direction to and manage the risks of a community housing business that aspires to grow and develop into a major provider of social and affordable housing