In 1981 Rev. John Grace was chaplain at Warrnambool’s Brierly Psychiatric Hospital and Joan Grace OAM was a member of a community support group and they occasionally had former patients over to their house for a meal.
The seed for francis foundation was planted when a patient was released from hospital and had nowhere to go to and Joan & John invited the person into their home to live.
And so, along with their family and a local group of supporters, they created francis foundation.
francis foundation has ongoing links with local schools, businesses, community groups and philanthropic organisations in Warrnambool and Port Fairy.
In 2023 Joan passed away and the decision was made to keep Joan’s legacy alive through the ongoing and vital work of francis foundation.
The rooming house opened in 1983 at Alveston House, leased from the Warrnambool Base Hospital.
francis foundation was formally incorporated in 1988 as a charitable organisation to provide accommodation and support to adults, 25 to 65 years of age, experiencing mental health issues who were also homeless or at risk of becoming so.
francis foundation continues this work, with places at the rooming house in demand due to its reputation and the lack of local alternatives.
Whilst most residents over the years have been men, the rooming house is open to all who meet the above criteria. Some residents have stayed for days or weeks, others for years.
Several have returned to the rooming house at times in their lives when, often due to their prevailing mental state, they are not able to obtain or sustain safe independent living options elsewhere. Whilst many residents have moved on to other independent living settings, for some it became their home.
francis foundation initially operated out of Alveston House without the confidence of secure tenancy until in 1994, when it was purchased by the Warrnambool City Council, who updated the facility and continue to partner as landlord in delivering the service.
In 1990 francis foundation opened a charity shop (op shop) in Port Fairy, and it provides a service locally as a repository for, and source of, pre-loved clothing and other items, contributing significant financial support to the operation of the rooming house in Warrnambool.
Due to their strong Christian beliefs John and Joan Grace, founders of francis foundation, named it for Saint Francis of Assisi and his dedication to those who are vulnerable. The francis foundation logo shows prayerful, protective, embracing hands with lower-case letters reminding us to be humble.
The logo was designed by Liz Bensch (deceased), a local artist and former resident for many years of the rooming house.
