Aged Care Minister Gavin Jennings joined Archbishop Denis Hart and 150 guests including the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Charity Sister Elizabeth Dodds at the opening of St Vincent's Health's new purpose-built Prague House for the homeless in Kew.

Thirty years ago the Sisters of Charity, who operate St Vincent's Health, bought a grand old home in Sackville Street, Kew, to provide safe accommodation for men who were homeless or at serious risk of becoming homeless.

They named it Prague House and a cherub-sized replica of the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague had a home at the front of the mansion.

The Sisters of Charity are dedicated to helping the poor and the marginalised and the home was very quickly full to capacity with 20 men sharing—up to four in a room.

Over the years, additional facilities were built at the rear of the building, extending the capacity and support available.

Once residents are accepted in to Prague House it becomes their home.

The average length of stay is around five years but some have spent more than 20 years in the care of the Sisters and staff.

They become like family and there are numerous stories of the staff going out of their way to take care of the residents.

In one recent case, a staff member went to considerable effort to find a suit, shirt, tie and shoes for one of the residents so he was able to attend a funeral looking his best. 

Prague House has a team of 22 staff and 10 volunteers led by Tina Melrose, along with the unfaltering dedication of Sister Joan Stapleton, who provides fulltime pastoral care and Sister Anna Parlevliet, who provides care for the residents three days a week.

During the move to the new Prague House, each staff 'adopted' a couple of residents in a buddy system, so the residents had someone special to turn to if they have any concerns or problems during the settling in period.

The new Prague House marks a quantum leap in care for the residents.

While the old home was indeed a grand Victorian mansion, it fell well below the new standards required for aged care accommodation that come into effect in 2008 and it was simply not viable to renovate it.

The men now have their own rooms É and with a choice of stairs or lift there is no grand staircase to negotiate.

The new house is also purpose-built.

It is light, open, breezy, practical and larger—with room for 45 residents to live in security and with dignity.

The statue of the Infant of Prague has been moved to the courtyard of the new building.

The Department of Human Services provided land for the new building at nominal rent.

The Federal Department of Health and Ageing provided a million dollars to cover the shortfall in funding between the sale of the Sackville Street property and the cost of the new building.

Donors contributed nearly $200,000 for furniture and fittings.

The move will also mark a new direction in the work of the Sisters of Charity.

In recent years, it has become apparent there is a growing incidence of older women who are homeless or at serious risk of homelessness.

At least half a dozen women will become residents of Prague House within the next few months.