Without the Early Morning Centre, homeless man Roger Smith (not his real name) tells me, those in his predicament would be much worse off.

The EMC is a community hub supporting Canberra people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and social isolation. It provides daily breakfasts and lunches several times a week, essential services (from showers and laundry to phones and internet), healthcare (alcohol and drug counselling and a vet clinic), accommodation support, as well as a current affairs discussion group, cooking classes, and an arts and crafts group.

“Services like this, they’re fantastic, they’re integral,” Mr Smith says. “If it wasn’t for their help, I don’t think a lot of people here would make it.”

In his own case, he said, it was “a lifesaver”.

• HelpingACT feeds homeless at the Early Morning Centre (13 September)
• City homelessness support centre now open 7 days (19 July 2021)

“It gave me hope [to save money to get into my own place]. It’s been imperative to my recovery [from alcoholism], which I’m very grateful for.

“I’m struggling with homelessness, which seems to be quite rife within the ACT, from a per capita perspective. It’s got quite a high unemployment rate. To get into affordable housing, I needed to save money, because I still have to pay bonds and a security deposit…

“This place really assisted me with my food bill, because food in Canberra is expensive as well, because everything is trucked in. I would come here a couple of times a week, if I was short on cash, because I was saving to move out, into my own place.

“Everyone associates people who are homeless as being a little bit crazy, or having mental health issues. … But a lot of them don’t. They’re down on their luck. They need a leg-up – something to help them, so they can help themselves.”

The EMC, in his view, provides that leg-up. Some of the support is material: food, washing, tax services, legal services. But the EMC also tries to give its ‘guests’ a more fulfilling life, by providing a safe space for connection, support, and growth.

“There’s a good atmosphere,” Mr Smith says. “Everyone’s in the same situation. It provides a good conduit to talk about and solve issues that people may experience, and to speak to someone who understands.

“There’s a lot of support here. When you’re living rough, sleeping rough, you need that support.”

A project of the Canberra City Uniting Church, supported by the ACT Government, the EMC opened in 2005.

Rebecca Vassarotti, ACT Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services, said she was “incredibly thankful” for everything the Early Morning Centre did to support the local community and contribute to meeting the government’s aspiration of ending poverty in the ACT.

• Housing minister wants to eliminate homelessness in the ACT (8 September)

“The engagement of EMC means that people feel respected, dignified, and can be supported to transition into a safe, secure and long-term home,” she said.

“The ACT Greens promised to support EMC to keep its doors open, seven days a week, because the need doesn’t take the weekend off. In my role as Minister for Homelessness, I was thrilled to deliver on this commitment in the first Budget this term to deliver funding that ensures the doors are open every day.

“From arranging emergency accommodation and social connection to meals and a shower, EMC does a lot of amazing work to help those who need it. I’m so excited that this service has been extended through ACT Government funding, and want to thank EMC for their passion to improve outcomes for Canberrans at-risk of or experiencing homelessness.

“It is also a meeting point for other community services to directly engage with people facing homelessness so they can be supported on their pathway to a home. I was really pleased to recently join HelpingACT at one of their monthly barbecues to provide a warm dinner for people experiencing homelessness. Knowing where these services are and when can have a massive impact and provide stability and reassurance for people who have complex needs.

“Early Morning Centre also played an essential role as part of the ACT’s COVID response as a trusted community partner. They were a central point for Canberrans facing homelessness or in public housing to receive information about what was happening, vaccines and opportunity to receive the jab if they wished.”

HelpingACT, a food charity run by Mohammed Ali, ACT Citizen of the Year, has been involved with the EMC for several years. They provide a monthly barbecue and lunch, and food hampers at Christmas.

“The Early Morning Centre is among those organisations that provide hope to those having no hope,” Mr Ali said. “It rebuilds lives and assures that every life is valuable and can contribute to society beautifully once we spend some time and effort to fade the mist away from their lives.”