A New Chapter for Safe Waters Community Care

In April 2025, Safe Waters Community Care faced one of its greatest challenges. We were advised that we would not be receiving the government funding that had been promised—a decision that forced us to make the difficult choice to restructure our charity. This meant saying goodbye to our incredible team of staff, including our CEO. All staff were made redundant, and only two new positions were created.

As part of this restructure, we also made the difficult decision to close our transitional housing program. Thankfully, in this process, most of the properties were taken over by the tenants who had been living in them, allowing for a smoother transition and continued housing stability.

Despite the hardship, our story didn’t end there.

Thanks to the unwavering generosity of our amazing community, we were able to keep our doors open. Not only that—we began a new chapter. On May 28, 2025, we proudly opened the doors to our new shelter at 100 St Vincent Street, Ulladulla. Located in the heart of town, this shelter has made accessing vital services easier for our guests and has become a Hub of hope and support.

Our New Shelter

• Jody, our Shelter Supervisor, works from this location Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.

• Our dedicated volunteers provide overnight support from 5pm–8am, seven days a week.

• Due to limited funding, we currently do not have support workers available on weekends.

• On Monday nights, the Soup Kitchen van visits from 5pm–6:30pm, offering warm meals that guests can enjoy on-site or take home.

The Highway Shelter

While our new shelter meets immediate crisis needs, the Highway Shelter continues to provide short-term accommodation for guests transitioning out of crisis. Here, our team of staff and volunteers assist individuals in taking the next steps toward stable, long-term housing. Tanya, our Shelter Manager, works across both locations, with her main office based at the Highway Shelter.

Looking Ahead

Though the loss of funding was a significant blow, the strength of our community has carried us forward. We remain committed to supporting those in need and advocating for sustainable solutions to homelessness and crisis accommodation.

We thank every volunteer, donor, and supporter who stood by us. Your kindness has helped us continue our mission—and we’re just getting started.