- Our objective is reached. As of now, 10,318 people across the world have been reached and housed via projects of the 13 Houses Campaign. 100%
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
Vincentian Responses to Coronavirus Globally
At the Famvin Homeless Alliance we are hearing stories of how different parts of the Vincentian Family are responding to homeless and vulnerable people during the outbreak of the Corona Virus. We asked Fr Robert Maloney, former Superior General of the Congregation of...
Young and old, supported by the Daughters of Charity in Kenya
Vincentian women have been at the forefront of the Vincentian task of tendering for the sick and the poor. Since the time of St Louise de Marillac and St Vincent de Paul, the Daughters of Charity have been crucial to put words into actions. In Kenya, the Daughters of...
Watch the new 13 Houses video!
The “13 Houses” Campaign is changing the lives of homeless people all around the world thanks to the collaboration between Vincentian branches. A few months ago, we brought you Abundio and his family’s story from Hueyapan, Mexico, and the work carried out by all the...
From Lebanon to Rwanda – in solidarity with refugees
The chaplaincy of the Mahama Burundian refugee camp received a visit from the Lebanese Missionary group for Charity from the 15th to the 25th of August last year. The visit was part of a collaboration inside the Famvin Homeless Alliance but also among FHA ambassadors...
12 months of 13 Houses!
The 13 Houses Campaign is one-year-old today! In these 12 months, the Campaign has grown from a single house in Little Rock, Arkansas (USA) to 37 projects in 28 countries. And this is only the beginning! We are expecting 24 new countries to join in the coming months!...
13 Houses to celebrate 50 years of the Congregation of the Mission in Curitiba
On September 22nd, in the Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Campo Largo, Brazil, took place the encounter of the Vincentian Family to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Curitiba Province of the Congregation of the Mission. The celebration was presided by Father...
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America joins the fight against homelessness inspired by the 13 Houses Campaign
The FHA launched the 13 Houses Campaign almost a year ago to change the lives of 10000 homeless people. We wanted to inspire Vincentians around the world to join efforts, but we never closed the door to go beyond the Family. Now, the Campaign is starting to inspire...
A second chance thanks to the “13 Houses”
My name is Flore and I am from a humble family from Côte d'Ivoire. When I was 17 years old, my life changed. My mum passed away during the 2002 civil war, and then I started a journey that took me far away from everything and everybody. After her death, life was...
A new house for a better life in New Zealand
Terri and husband Tane immigrated to New Zealand from Kiribati islands in 2008 with their 2-year-old son. They initially lived with friends. After two years they moved to the rural area of Warkworth north of Auckland city. Tane had found work in horticulture. He has...
Spreading the word about the “13 Houses” among Vincentians in Brazil
Ada Ferreira, the volunteer ambassador from Brazil, has not missed a chance to encourage Vincentians in her country to join the Alliance and the “13 Houses” Campaign. Our ambassadors work in their communities and within existing Vincentian Family structures to...
Rebuilding hope in Mexico
In the afternoon of September 11th, 2017, Abundio Pérez was working in the field like any other day near Hueyapán, in Morelos, Mexico. Suddenly, he heard a frightening thunder and the earth started to comb and to break. He tried to run, but the tremor threw him to the...
The Vincentian Family in Spain is joining the Famvin Homeless Alliance with four “13 Houses” projects
The Coordinator of the Famvin Homeless Alliance, Mark McGreevy and “13 Houses” Campaign Coordinator, Natalie Monteza, visited Seville, Spain, this past 22-24 May to know more about the “13 Houses” projects in the country. They were welcomed by the Daughters of Charity...
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
