Around a dozen people experienced the spirit of Christmas in action when Lutheran Care’s homelessness team hosted a get together of some former and current Terra Firma residents for some festive fellowship.

Terra Firma is an initiative of the Lutheran Care-led Toward Home Alliance, in partnership with real estate firm Harcourts Packham.

Based in a repurposed and tastefully renovated and furnished former backpackers’ hostel in Adelaide’s CBD, Terra Firma provides a short-term (up to 12 weeks) accommodation option with accompanying support for eligible Toward Home clients. It caters for singles and couples aged 45 and over experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and some small pets can also be accommodated. This circuit breaker diverts residents from the devastating health and wellbeing impacts of experiencing homelessness and gives them time and space to explore their options and work toward overcoming any barriers they are facing, with support from a caseworker.

The Christmas party was held at Terra Firma on 23 December.  

Terra Firma Senior Manager Daniel Shambusha reflected that, “Christmas provides the opportunity to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves [and] Christmas at Terra Firma was no different”.

Both lunch and dinner on the day were generously catered by a team from community organisation Aspiring Futures, who provided a delicious spread of chicken, pork, salads, fruit and sweets plus a gift for each attendee.

Daniel thanked Aspiring Futures for going “above and beyond” with their support.

“It was wonderful to see both staff and residents having a meal together, laughing and throwing around the Christmas cracker jokes every now and then,” he said.