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
94 houses opened and blessed in Australia as part of the “13 Houses” Campaign
Vincentians have opened and blessed 94 houses in Cardiff, New South Wales (NSW) Australia. This is the last batch of the 500 houses built by the St Vincent de Paul Society and the local government, a project which is part of the “13 Houses” Campaign. The Social and...
Letter from Tomaž Mavrič, CM, President of the Executive Committee of the Vincentian Family, on the “13 houses” initiative
Rome, 2 February 2021 Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Dear Superiors General, International Presidents, Presidents of the National Councils or representatives of the Vincentian Family in any given country, all members of the worldwide Vincentian Family, May the...
500 new houses for the homeless in Australia mark the 2º anniversary of the “13 Houses” Campaign
Mr EE is an elderly man who, for most of his life, has suffered from substance abuse. With limited family and support, Mr EE found himself living in a small room at a pub. His life changed when he accessed one of the new 502 housing units that make up the latest “13...
The “13 Houses” Campaign expands in the USA amidst Covid-19
The “13 Houses” Campaign keeps growing in the United States, the country where it all began back in November 2018 with a single house for a single person. Almost two years later, the Campaign is touching the lives of nearly 5000 people worldwide. There are two...
FHA Conference on Refugees and Human Trafficking
The FHA’s 2020 ‘Conference on Refugees and Human Trafficking’, is due to take place in Seville later this year unless COVID-19 forces us to postpone until spring 2021. As part of the FHA’s endeavor to build global capacity within the Vincentian Family on homelessness,...
“Only the Vincentian Family came to help us”
Latin America is now the epicenter of COVID-19. Like many times in the past, the Vincentian Family has stepped up to the challenge and is continuing to work with the poorest of the poor during this difficult time. The Vincentian Family in Ecuador, who are already part...
The Daughters of Charity prevent hunger among single mothers in Ethiopia during COVID-19
Being a single mother of four is always a challenge, even more during a global pandemic. Letay Kassa, 34, was already used to hardship and homelessness when COVID-19 struck Mekelle, Ethiopia. Letay’s family sent her to the city from their village to escape the hard...
Striving to be “social poets”, the Famvin Homeless Alliance’s response to COVID-19
In his April 2020 Letter to Popular Movements, Pope Francis says to them: “you are social poets because, from the forgotten peripheries where you live, you create admirable solutions for the most pressing problems afflicting the marginalized”. As States declared a...
Ihor, a life changed amidst the pandemic in Ukraine
Earlier this year in March, Ihor approached Depaul Ukraine Street Outreach project in Odessa and asked us for help. Ihor is 61 years old and has a wife and daughter, but due to a disagreement with his relatives they lost their house a few years ago. Since then, the...
Warde, a story of providence
With a big smile and shiny eyes, Warde welcomes you whenever you visit; a visit she prays for every day, every week, every month. She smiles as if she has no care in the world, she greets as if she has known you forever and she spreads positivity as if she had...
Supporting refugees in Rwanda in the time of COVID-19
The world is currently in the midst of a period of great difficulty due to the onset of the coronavirus. Since March 14th, Rwanda has been under lockdown in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country. This includes the Mahama Refugee Camp, where our...
The Vincentian Sisters of Untermarchtal Start a Prayer Network during this time of COVID-19
In order to help the people during the current crisis, the Vincentian Sisters of Untermarchtal have initiated a prayer network that enables them to be present to people in a new way. They want to assure people that they are not alone. Yes, as church services are...
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
