The work of Ebenezer began in 1968 when the much-loved Mrs Hazel Hays began to provide accommodation and support for homeless Indigenous youth in her Balcatta home.
In 1984, the ageing Mrs Hayes was approached by Pastor Denzil Humphries from the Balga Aboriginal Church with a desire to assist homeless young people. Following discussions, a couple from the church began to live in the house and help to revive the work using funds from their own pension payments.
Later, the State Government began to provide some continued financial assistance for the work of Ebenezer Home. Despite initial strong resistance from the local community, the Department of Housing made houses available in Girrawheen in 1989, and Marangaroo in 1991. The service now provides five crisis and five transitional beds for females and three transitional beds for males. And our neighbours are now supportive of the work.
In keeping with the original vision, Ebenezer Aboriginal Corporation continues to provide accommodation and support for needy young people whose needs are addressed on an individual basis within the context of extended family and community.
Since 2018, our services expanded to include In-home parenting support to Aboriginal families through the Wungening Moort (families healing) and T120 programs.
Ebenezer also supports Aboriginal men transitioning from prison back into community via our Employment Program, and provides an employment and support agency for Indigenous men and women from the community. The Employment Program specifically supports indigenous men in Acacia prison to prepare for employment on release and assists them and their employers to ongoing success.
And more recently, Ebenezer is providing Family and Domestic Violence support and counselling with programs designed specifically for both men and women.
