Since 1983, the amazing people at Jewish House have been helping those who have nowhere else to turn. Their new project, Project HoPe, looks to offer shelter to those left behind. Man, woman or animal.
Jewish House is an independent, not-for-profit charity providing crisis intervention and prevention services in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Founded in 1983 by brothers Anthony and Roger Clifford, the organisation was begun with the intent of providing early intervention assistance and vital services to help people rebuild their lives after a major life event or crisis; a tradition of care which continues today.
With its doors open without bias to people, regardless of their religion or cultures, Jewish House provides compassion and help for those in the community who need it most.
One person who has enjoyed the hospitality and support offered by Jewish House is “Leah”, who asked us to use a pseudonym to protect her privacy. We spoke to Leah about her experiences there, and how their policies helped her when she was at her most vulnerable.
“I was at Jewish House with my daughter and two boys (cats), Jasper and Leo. It was the safest, cleanest and most supportive crisis care we experienced—at this point, we had moved eight times. They offered resources suitable to our needs and made us feel comfortable. Jewish House went above and beyond and provided support other crisis places did not.”
It won’t come as any kind of surprise to pet owners that the safety and presence of your furry companions can be of the utmost importance. For Leah, the knowledge that she could bring her cats with her made all the world of difference.
“Through our homelessness journey I was told I had to give up the boys and I knew that I couldn’t, I was not leaving them, they are a part of the family.”
Leah knows what many survivors of domestic violence know: that it doesn’t just impact you, it impacts your whole family—even the four-legged members of the family.
“I couldn’t leave them (behind),” she said. “There was a period of two weeks where we were ‘homeless by choice’ because I wouldn’t leave them. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t anywhere with compassion for pets too. Having them with us was crucial to my wellbeing and mental health.
Read the article by TBS Partners on The Big Smoke.