Cabramatta NSW - John Street in Cabramatta, known for its vibrant markets and cultural diversity, also hides a heartbreaking reality: it’s home to the largest concentration of rough sleepers in the Fairfield area. Each Thursday night, as the streets quiet down, volunteers from 777 Movement, walk through, offering a lifeline—free food packs and a compassionate smile and conversation.
Cabra-Vale Diggers & 777 Movement will be hosting a Cabra Community Christmas Lunch for those who are living rough in Fairfield LGA as well as disadvantaged families in the area. This will take place at Bartley Street on Friday 20th December where the team have organised lunch with a visit from Santa and gifts for those attending there will also be music, face painting for the children and a visit from Macarthur Bulls A League players as well as their mascot Arthur the Bull. There will be gifts for those who attend.
For many, these weekly interactions provide a moment of relief, but for the volunteers, it’s a bittersweet exchange. “We can feed them, but we still have to leave them on the street.”
777 Movement have put together a project called Homeless to Home. This program aims to take rough sleepers off the streets and place them in temporary housing while helping them transition to permanent accommodation.
The concept is simple but powerful: provide a safe, temporary space for those in need. With access to essential services and guidance, individuals can focus on rebuilding their lives rather than merely surviving.
“Once they’re in the temporary home, we’ll help them with applications for permanent housing,” explains the project coordinator. “This short-term stability can make a world of difference.”
777 Movement already delivers weekly food hampers to homeless and disadvantaged families across the Fairfield LGA, ensuring that filling a fridge is never an issue.
Each temporary home will be fully furnished. Beds, couches, kitchenware, and even personal care items will transform the house into a welcoming space—a true home, even if only for a short time.
The goal is not just to provide temporary shelter but to break the cycle of homelessness. Each individual or family will stay for a short period while 777 works with local housing services to secure permanent accommodation. Once settled, the home will be ready for the next person in need.
Cabra-Vale Diggers understands that addressing homelessness requires a community-wide effort. The club is calling on local businesses, organisations, and individuals to support the 777 Movement through donations this Christmas.
“This is about more than just housing—it’s about restoring dignity, hope, and the chance for a fresh start,” says Boris Belevski the CEO of Cabra-Vale Diggers.
As the program takes shape, there is a growing sense of hope on John Street and throughout the Fairfield LGA. Cabra-Vale Diggers is committed to ensuring that, one by one, those who have been left behind will find their way from homelessness to home.
Together, we can give hope this Christmas and continue to help empower our community.
Key Facts:
- Homeless people: As of October 2024, there were 1,571 people experiencing homelessness in Fairfield.
- Homelessness rate: The rate of homelessness in Fairfield is 94.3 people per 10,000.
- Social housing waitlist: There are 3,798 households on the general waitlist for social housing in Fairfield, and 241 households on the priority list. Wait times in major centers are often more than five years.
- Rental stress: 5,998 households in Fairfield are experiencing rental stress, which is the highest rate in New South Wales.
About us:
Cabra-Vale Diggers is located at 1 Bartley Street, Canley Vale.
For further information, visit www.cabravale.com
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Shayne-Anne O’Leary soleary@cabravale.com | 0439 545147
Group Community & Partnerships Manager |Cabra-Vale Diggers Group
Contact details:
Shayne-Anne O’Leary
soleary@cabravale.com | 0439 545147
