Years of Service
Organizations
Countries
Goal: End Homelessness!
Who we are
A Vincentian Family global initiative supporting established and emerging homelessness initiatives across the globe. We understand homelessness as those living on the street, refugees and those displaced from their home, and slum dwellers in inadequate housing.
Our Vision
A world where everyone has a place to call home and a stake in their community.
What we do
- Improve and transform the lives of homeless people,
- Build global capacity in the Vincentian Family,
- Encourage structural change,
- Community engagement,
- Communication for social change.
The "13 Houses" Campaign
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.
The "13 Houses" Jubilee Project
In a powerful demonstration of compassion and solidarity, the Vincentian Family embarked on a transformative journey through the 13 Houses Jubilee Project, a global initiative that promised to bring shelter and hope to vulnerable families across thirteen new countries.
During the World Day of the Poor on November 17, 2024, Pope Francis blessed 13 symbolic bronze keys—meticulously crafted by Catholic artist Timothy Schmalz—representing homes to be built in Syria, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. These keys are more than mere metal; they are emblems of hope, dignity, and symbols of the Church's unwavering commitment to those experiencing homelessness.
During the Jubilee of the Poor on November 16, 2025, beneficiaries from each of the thirteen countries gathered at St. Peter's Basilica, receiving a special blessing from Pope Francis. This powerful gathering symbolized the global reach and united mission of the Vincentian Family.
What’s Been Going On: News & Activities
Building Dignity, Health, and Hope: New Beginnings in Cambodia and India
The 13 Houses Jubilee Project is restoring dignity to vulnerable families in Cambodia by installing a school water purification system that delivers clean drinking water to students and the wider community. Simultaneously in India, the initiative is expanding stable housing support by completing new homes and securing safer futures for migrant families.
Celebrating the Feast of St. Vincent: charity in action across the world
Inspired by St. Vincent de Paul’s call to action, the Vincentian Family is transforming lives across the globe. Discover how housing initiatives and livelihood projects in Burkina Faso, Tanzania, and beyond are bringing hope and breaking the cycle of poverty.
“Some personal news…”
At the Depaul Group Assembly in London last month, Mark McGreevy, founder and President of the Depaul Group, announced...
Building Homes, Dignifying Lives
The Famvin Homeless Alliance’s first regional conference in Latin America marked an important moment of collaboration,...
Renewing Our Vincentian Commitment to End Homelessness
The FHA Strategic Plan 2026–2029 The Vincentian Family has always drawn its strength from a simple yet profound...
A New Chapter for Our Shared Mission
As the Famvin Homeless Alliance begins a new chapter within Depaul International, we reaffirm the same Vincentian spirit that has guided us from the beginning: walking together to ensure every person has a place to call home. (Editorial, FHA Newsletter, n. 16 (June 2026))