About Us

Our Vision

To see the Church fully embrace its calling to care for the marginalised, by being equipped with the resources, training, and encouragement needed to build lasting transformation in local communities.

Our Role

Inspired by Jesus Christ, our role is to empower the Church as it provides shelter to
people in need and journeys with each person, offering physical, social, emotional and spiritual care as an expression of God’s love.

We are...

More than a place to stay.

We recognise that homelessness is not just a lack of shelter. The Church is uniquely positioned and called to care for ‘the least of these’ (Matt 25:40)

We invite you to view our current Strategic Plan here:

Our Values

Integrity

In honouring people we honour God.

We are transparent and accountable.

We treat all people with respect and dignity.

Community

Each person matters.

We prioritise connection and inclusion.

We journey with people towards stability.

Unity

We work together as the Church.

We collaborate with others.

Our Story

Stable One was born out of the personal journey of our founder, Jenny, and the prayers of the Church.

Jenny writes …

In 2016 whilst volunteering at a foodbank in Lilydale, I had the privilege of meeting and assisting people who were struggling to make ends meet and had my eyes well and truly opened to the issue of homelessness in my community. In my mind, this was a city issue, not one experienced amongst the leafy rail trails and wineries of the Yarra Valley. It turned out that there were men, women and children, who were my neighbours, sleeping in cars, in parks and reserves, on friend’s couches, or in sheds and on porches.

An ecumenical prayer group came together to ask God what we could do to make a difference. We believed God was showing us three things:

Be the Church – work together (1 Cor 12: 27)
Love Like Jesus (Matthew 25:35-40)
He cares about the ‘one’.
If you only help one person, it’s still worth trying (Luke 15)

Research highlighted great work already happening in our community - 26 emergency relief services were offering food parcels, meals, clothing, assistance with bills, etc. The critical need that was not being met, however, was for safe, affordable housing.

We continued to pray regularly and saw answers in the form of people who had different experiences and knowledge of projects in other places around the world. Three different projects in three different countries were brought to our attention, all doing similar things – offering crisis shelter to people experiencing homelessness using church buildings. We gleaned all we could from their experiences, shared the vision with local pastors and plans were begun for a Winter Shelter pilot the following year.

Stable One was registered as a charity at the end of 2016 with the express purpose of helping the Church to do the things we believe God showed us. We worked hard on research, policy development and logistics and were ready to open our first Winter Shelter on 1 June 2017 with 165 trained volunteers.

Our guests were offered 'more than a place to stay' through the building of community, connection, care, belonging and the love of Jesus.

Stable One was born out of prayer, and that is how we continue to operate. We want to follow God, one step at a time.

Since we began, I have met many more people experiencing homelessness. Their stories, their courage, their resilience and their hearts inspire me. Seeing the Church respond to their needs and show God’s love for them in such practical ways fills me with joy.

— Jenny

Why 'Stable One'?

This name came from those who initally met together for prayer. There was a real sense that homelessness was an issue too huge for us to solve, but that it was okay if we only helped just one person. God confirmed that message to us in the next few days and weeks through different people and through scripture. Particularly we read the story of the lost sheep. Read it here.

For those experiencing homelessness, stability is crucial to their well-being. Not just in terms of a place to live, but in terms of strong foundations on which to build. As Christians, we believe that the firmest foundation on which to build a life is Jesus Christ. He is the Stable One.

We want to offer people more than just a roof over their heads and a bed for the night. We are the church. We are a community, a family. We have the opportunity to build relationships with people who are often lonely and isolated, and to love them like Jesus.

Our Team

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Stacey Aslangul
Board Director  (Chair)

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Stacey Aslangul

I am currently part of the fundraising team at Uniting Vic/ Tas as Major Donor Lead. I have 20+ years of experience in pastoral leadership and the community, not-for-profit sector, with a particular passion for working alongside those experiencing marginalisation, homelessness and exploitation. In late 2023, I concluded my term as CEO of St Kilda Gatehouse during which I became wholeheartedly convinced that kindness and compassion can change someones world and safe, affordable housing is key to building belonging, connection and hope for the future. I love being a mum and wife and you’re likely to find me walking my dog at the beach, baking treats, tending to a struggling herb garden or trying to hold a tune in the community choir I’m a part of.
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David Wells
Board Director
(Secretary)

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David Wells

Although I am a lawyer by training, I have had some precious reinvention opportunities. I was privileged to spend 13 years as a manager/leader of a well-known Melbourne legal practice. These days, I help professional practices generally with business model transformation. When people who are aligned on mission, vision and values use their unique spiritual gifting in collaboration with each other and in service of others, positive social change is a real possibility. This is why the opportunity to serve on the board of Stable One attracted me. Apart from a couple of years living in Sth Gippsland as a newly-wed, I have been an active member at One Community Church in Blackburn for more than 40 years. I enjoy studying modern European languages and cycling, especially uphill.
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Dee Dee Booth
Board Director
(Vice Chair)

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Dee Dee Booth

I work in hands-on education with young people who are disengaged with mainstream schooling. I am passionate about journeying with people and helping them to find a sense of belonging in their setting. My background includes policy and research within the social sciences, mental health services, and community engagement.
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Lyndell Fraser
Board Director (Treasurer)

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Lyndell Fraser

I joined the Board as Secretary in 2019, bringing 25 years of administration experience. Professionally, I am a Director of Detail 9 Architects, an architectural practice with a focus in community infrastructure. I have been a member of the Forest Hill College Council for 5 years, (President in 2019) and was previously President of the Mt Pleasant Rd Primary School Council. My values come from family and my lifelong involvement with Churches of Christ - a strong work ethic, generosity, caring for others and volunteering all key elements, demonstrated particularly by my parents. I was excited by the tangible way a winter shelter can allow one person to make a difference and have volunteered with my husband in the pilot and subsequent projects. I have two children, two dogs and a chicken. I love spending time with family and friends, am a sporting fanatic and an active member of Ringwood Church of Christ.
Ian BUnston

Ian Bunston
Board Director

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Ian Bunston

After 40 years in state and private education, I now work part time as a Community Connector - a joint partnership position between Korus Connect and Vicinity, Box Hill Central Shopping Centre. I have a passion for seeing better connected communities where individuals, families and organisations thrive. My heart is to see people inspired, supported and whole. Working also with Deakin University mentoring pre- service teachers and also presenting in sporting clubs about ‘Men’s Health and Wellbeing’ with SALT, I feel God is using my life developed skills and interests.The opportunity to support those who are homeless through the Stable One Board has direct synergies with my current work. I consider it a privilege to be part of such a committed team addressing such a needy and challenging issue in our community.
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Andy White
Board Director

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Andy White

I am very glad to be involved with Stable One and its practical vision for providing shelter. My first career was in engineering, but my passion was working with young people, so I soon pursued a teaching career. After fifteen years teaching, I worked for nine years as Education Director for a national network of parent initiated Christian Schools. This work involved assisting parent groups to establish and maintain healthy schools. In 1998, my move to the Northern Territory stirred a deep interest in remote Indigenous education. Here I was involved in developing new models of community-driven schooling. These new schools demonstrated the positive effect of communities, previously trapped on the margins of society, taking control. Now retired, Sherrin and I live in the Yarra Valley, enjoying our grandchildren and helping out wherever we can, with me pursuing my lifelong interest in all things automotive!
David Wilson

Dr David Wilson
Consultant

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Dr David Wilson

My career began 49 years ago in the inner suburbs of Melbourne working with people struggling with homelessness, drug addiction and mental health issues. My undergraduate work was in Theology, followed by a Masters of Arts in Social Science and a Doctorate in Counselling. I taught Sociology, Philosophy, Urban Studies, Psychology and Counselling at a Tertiary level for over 25 yrs. I was President of Residents 3000, the political voice of people living in the CBD and in that role was part of the commission that developed the City of Melbourne’s Drugs Action Plan. As a Melbourne City Councilor (2004 – 2008), I held the position of The Chair of Community & Culture, which covered Libraries; Children, Youth, Aged, Family, Disabilities and Ethnic Services; Emergency Management; Housing; Indigenous Affairs; Safety & Health; and Social Policy, which included drug abuse, homeless issues and policing matters. I was Director of Bible Society’s Sophia Think Tank for five years, promoting engagement with wisdom for personal and social transformation through public theology and advocacy. In that role I researched topics such as the problem of youth suicide, and the crisis in Australian democracy. Until the end of 2017 I was the CEO of Urban Seed in the City of Melbourne (a Christian Community Development Agency that uses hospitality, recreation, and the arts to help people experiencing disadvantage to move toward communities of healing, hope and justice). I have now retired from paid employment in the Community Sector and am passionate about giving back to that sector the kind of support services I benefitted from over that time, through education, advocacy, networking and support. I am a Consultant with Stable One in the Yarra Ranges and give my time to other local organisations working with the disadvantaged. I am also involved in the leadership of two Churches in my neighbourhood. I am married to Debbie. We have four adult children and seventeen grandchildren.
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Katherine Kirkwood
CEO

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Katherine Kirkwood

I am an accountant by trade with 20+ years experience in both private practice and small business environments. Passionate about the local church and fostering intergenerational collaboration, I love to help people put their discipleship of Jesus into practice by sharing His love with others. I am actively involved in my faith community at Montrose Church of Christ, wearing a few different hats in both governance and ministry roles. I am married to Brett, and we have two children, James and Lucy. I began volunteering with Stable One in 2020 after feeling convicted to step out of my comfort zone in order to understand the issues of poverty and homelessness on a more personal level. I have been so inspired by our founder, Jenny Willetts, and Stable One’s passionate group of volunteers, who are wholeheartedly committed to doing what they can with what they have to make a difference in the world. I feel privileged to work alongside them in this mission.