About Us
Our Vision
Shelter for all.
Our Mission
Bringing churches and the community together to provide practical support and solutions for people experiencing homelessness.
Our Values
BWNS operates with a commitment to:
Safety
Compassion
Hospitality
Respect
Accountability
Trust
Community responsibility
Our Story
Bendigo Winter Night Shelter is a community-led response to homelessness in Central Victoria.
Our story began in 2019 when members of the Bendigo community recognised the limited support for people sleeping rough during the cold winter months. support was limited.
BWNS is essentially a franchisee of a model developed by an organisation called Stable One. BWNS became affiliated with Stable One for the first time in 2025.
Stable One was born in the Yarra Valley of Melbourne out of the personal journey of its founder Jenny and the prayers of churches.
Stable One was registered as a charity in 2016 with the express purpose of helping churches express God's concern for those in need. Stable One had undertaken research and policy development to develop the Night Shelter model.
The Stable One model uses church buildings for guest accommodation and churches to provide meals. The church accommodation locations are rotated between participating local churches.
BWNS used this rotating church accommodation model for the first years of its operation. In more recent years BWNS has used Koolamurt Scout Camp in Spring Gully as its sole accommodation venue.
Stabe One opened its first Winter Shelter on 1 June 2017 with 165 trained volunteers.
There are currently 8 Shelters in the Network:
Bass Coast Winter Shelter
Benalla: "The Welcome Place'
Bendigo Winter Night Shelter
Frankston Winter Shelter
Wangaratta Night Shelter
Yarra Valley Winter Shelter
Toowoomba Winter Shelter
Gympie Winter Shelter
Stable One provides BWNS with:
Administrative resources including detailed operational policies and procedures, sample forms, role descriptions, volunteer and guest handbooks.
Access to an online library of training and conference videos.
Training, support and consultancy.
Regular online network meetings for encouragement, troubleshooting and prayer.
Access to (at cost) and assistance with an online Volunteer Management System.
Free attendance for two affiliate representatives at the annual Winter Shelter Network Conference. The Conference allows shelters to collaborate, develop best practice and receive training from a variety of guest speakers. The 2025 Conference was held on 14-15 November at Eva Burrows College in Ringwood. BWNS attendees learned a lot about how to prepare for the 2026 BWNS winter program.
BWNS is deeply grateful for the support and encouragement of Stable One.
How the Shelter Works
The shelter operates during the winter season when cold temperatures increase the risks associated with sleeping rough.
Guests arrive in the evening and are welcomed by trained volunteers. A shared meal is provided, along with access to showers and a safe place to sleep.
Volunteers support the evening routine while maintaining a calm, respectful environment for all guests.
BWNS works alongside local agencies and outreach services to help connect guests with longer-term housing and support options where possible.
Annual Reports
The BWNS annual report captures the story of each winter season.
It highlights the number of guests welcomed into the shelter, the volunteers who made each evening possible and the community organisations and churches that opened their doors to host.
The report also shares key statistics from the season and outlines how community support helped provide meals, safe beds and connection to services.
Above all, the report reflects the collective effort of the Bendigo community working together to ensure people have a safe place during the coldest months of the year.