Countries
Projects
Houses
People helped
The 13 Houses Campaign is a Famvin Homeless Alliance initiative and aims to improve and transform the lives of 10,000 homeless people around the world in 3-5 years from 2018. More than that, we want to see 13 Houses projects in each of the 156 countries where the Vincentian Family works!
It started when Vincent was assigned the equivalent of one million dollars by Louis XIII as an endowment for his Congregation’s mission in 1643. Vincent chose to use the money to build 13 small houses close to Saint-Lazare, the motherhouse of the Congregation of the Mission, to care for abandoned children. The ongoing costs of these houses were supported by the Ladies of Charity while the Daughters of Charity cared for the children. By working together the Vincentian Family helped thousands of children who would have otherwise died on the streets.
But this Vincentian partnership did so much more for homeless people. It delivered aid to displaced people in the war zone of Alsace Lorraine and supported and housed refugees fleeing from the battle zone. It provided the Name of Jesus Hospice in 1652 to shelter, clothe, feed and train older people living on the streets or in the slums of Paris. It was responsible for the launch of Les Petites Ecoles (the little schools) that brought the gifts of literacy, numeracy and education to the poor – enabling them to escape the inter-generational poverty that so often ended in homelessness.
We were inspired by Vincent’s 13 houses. He saw a need and responded with concrete action. Today, we are confronted with the same problems that Vincent faced, but on a global scale. Of the 7 billion people on this planet almost 1.2 billion are homeless – they have been displaced, live in slums or on the streets of our cities. Many of them are turned away in their greatest time of need – a stark reminder of those words that dampen the joy of Luke’s infancy narrative: “There was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)
The 13 Houses Campaign has been created in response to this reality; learning and borrowing from the work of St Vincent himself.
Download our 13 Houses Booklet to learn more about the Campaign in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish or Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
Get involved!!
Help us end homelessness – One house at a time.
News and updates
Protecting Ghana’s vulnerable girls from human trafficking
The World Day against trafficking in persons is observed annually on July 30th to raise awareness about a crime which affects millions of people worldwide [1]. Human trafficking is a violation of human rights involving the exploitation of individuals for various...
“Sheltering” receive an award at an international social advertising festival
Madrid, July 3rd, 2023 — The Sheltering Campaign, carried out by the Famvin Homeless Alliance, was awarded the prestigious prize for "Best Social Value in Social Project or Action" at this year's International Festival of Social Advertising. The video campaign was...
Renewing hope: accompanying people who are refugees on their journey
A mother bends down to bury her own child, killed by the violence of war. A family mourns in pain after losing their home destroyed by the bombs. Dozens of people killed as a boat sinks off the coast. A father hopes to soon reunite with his daughter and wife,...
From Ghana to Seville: Doris’s journey, a mother, a friend, a sister
My name is Doris Agyapomaa, I am 24 years old, and I am from Ghana. I have a baby named Raymond, who is 16 months old. He was born in 2022 in Seville. I was born into a Christian family with eight siblings. I remember living in extreme poverty, and not all of us could...
The Light of Pentecost of St Louise: responding to God’s call in serving the poor
On the occasion of this month, we want to recall the experience of Pentecost of Saint Louise de Marillac, when on 4th June 1623, St Louise was moved by a deep spiritual insight. She tells us: “I was advised... that a time would come when I would be in a position to...
The Cry of Street Children across the World: How the Vincentian Family is Responding
Poverty affects everyone including children, in fact, they are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than adults[1]. Poverty is not only economic but is multidimensional, affecting fundamental rights including education, adequate housing, and access to drinking...
Protecting Children’s Rights in the Netherlands
According to recent figures published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS)[1], 209,000 children in the Netherlands are living at risk of poverty, with their parents earning a salary below the national low-income threshold. The ‘Team against Poverty’ in Tilburg – with the...
From Venezuela to Colombia: crossing the borders for a better future
Since the 2015 economic crisis in Venezuela, Colombia has hosted approximately 1.7 million Venezuelans, representing more than 37% of the approximately 4.6 million Venezuelan refugees in Latin America and the Caribbean.[1] Over half of the Venezuelan population living...
By word of mouth, the 13 Houses Campaign “travels” to new countries
The 13 Houses Campaign keeps growing: with the launch of the call for proposals on 30 August 2022, we witnessed the Vincentian desire to strengthen a ‘network of charity’ for homeless people that goes beyond geographical borders. The objective of the call was to...
Losing everything in an instant: A new home after the hurricanes Eta and Iota in Honduras
'It only took two weeks to go from poverty to absolute homelessness in Honduras and Guatemala'. (BBC, 2020) Through these few words, we can already feel the catastrophic effects of hurricanes Eta and Iota that devastated Central America in 2020. The natural disaster...
More than a home: a 13 Houses project helping people who are homeless in Asturias, Spain
Billions of people experience homelessness in the world (1), and its causes and forms are diverse. Therefore, it requires answers that go beyond providing a home but which also include wider and more holistic aspects. For example, the provision of psychological...
Ukraine joins the 13 Houses Campaign: rebuilding hope for those who lost everything
Fourteen million people fled their homes in search of safety and more than 800,000 homes have been destroyed: frightening numbers that have been seen in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022 to today (UNHCR). The Vincentian Family has showed great...
How to get involved
Create a 13 Houses project
No matter how big or small – any idea could eventually turn into a 13 Houses project. If you have seen people in your community experiencing some form of homelessness, we invite you to reflect on that archetypal Vincentian question: What must be done?
Bring your ideas to paper and talk about it with other groups within the Vincentian Family and/or partners that can help to make the idea a reality. You can use our Project Development Tool to help you structure your thoughts and assess what needs to be done. This might be taking your project to the next level or creating an entirely new one.
The 13 Houses Campaign encourages global collaboration across the Vincentian Family so think about how that might help you. For example, you may need support to “market” your project to a broader audience, or write up a realistic budget. It may be the first time you are working to help a specific group of people, or the first time to develop a housing project. The Vincentian Family has a wealth of expertise in all of these areas and there could be people in other countries able to share their experiences of similar projects with you.
The FHA is in place to link you up and to support you along the way so please get in touch with any questions you may have – we are always happy to help!
Solidarity Fund
Give to the Solidarity Fund
The Solidarity Fund has been set up to support poorer countries and branches to receive vital funds needed for them to realize their 13 Houses projects. By donating money to the Solidarity Fund, you help us to offer financial assistance to the countries and branches that need it most; it is held and distributed by the Congregation of the Mission International Fund.
Our ability to provide funds for specific projects depends entirely on the generosity of Vincentian Family members and groups, and we are hence incredibly grateful for any gifts.
If you would like to support the Solidarity Fund, please contact us on fha.info@famvin.org
Apply for a grant
Thank you for your involvement in the 13 Houses Campaign and for your interest in applying to the Solidarity Fund.
Please check your eligibility here. If you are eligible, please send us your project, using the Solidarity Fund application form available here. It will go through an assessment process to clarify all aspects for FHA to better advocate for your project before potential donors.
To receive further information on the Solidarity Fund and an application form, please contact fha.info[a]famvin.org
We also have a step-by-step guide for applying to other Trust and Foundations here.
Volunteer your expertise
If you have in-depth knowledge in a specific field, why not make that expertise available to the wider Vincentian Family? Many individuals, groups and branches have big ideas but lack the resources to bring them to life. Your expertise might be exactly what is needed and could help to bring a 13 Houses project to the next level. Get in touch with the FHA to let us know about your professional background and we will let you know when we think a Vincentian in another country could benefit from your skillset.
To make your expertise available, please contact fha.info@famvin.org
Resources
Click to download:
13 Houses Booklet in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish or Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
13 Houses Handbook in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French
Fundraising Step-by-step Guide
