From 1982 til 2003, members of the Catholic Worker movement have operated two houses of hospitality and community in the local neighbourhood, most notably Dorothy Day House in Boundary Street, West End.
During that time, they opened these houses to the marginalised of the area, providing short or long term accommodation, and encouragement. Full time community members live from a common purse, and usually work part time to cover expenses.
They have never taken government or church funding, only occasional donations from individuals.
The Catholic Worker movement was founded in New York in 1931 by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin. Members are also usually involved in various social justice issues, (“comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable†as Dorothy Day once put it).
Now a new generation of young people have been inspired to open a new Catholic Worker house, hopefully in West End or a nearby suburb.
The problem is, of course, rents have skyrocketed even since 2003, when they paid only $150 a week for a large house. If anyone knows of any house that might be available from a sympathetic landlord, please contact Rebekah on 0402 848786 or Culley on 0448 364227.
Obviously this new generation of Catholic Workers expects to pay a lot more than $150 a week. (If you need references you can visit the neighbours from the last Catholic Worker house in Boundary St who were, and remain, good friends!)
