Credo Café

Urban Seed’s ‘Street and Hospitality’ work is centred on Credo Café, the venue for our open lunch in the basement of Central House. Between 30 and 60 people may attend this meal on a given day. Some are facing serious substance abuse problems, mental health issues, are homeless or unemployed. Some are alone, others come in groups, or with the children in their care. However, all are welcome to the table, regardless of age, race, gender, sexuality or socio-economic status. 'Credo' is derived for the Latin word for belief - here is a place where we can put our beliefs into action.

The relationships formed over the shared lunch are the basis of most of the other activities undertaken by Urban Seed. We seek to build supportive relationships, strengthen community and extend hospitality to the poor. We run recreational and creative activities (e.g. writing group, art group, cricket team), initiating activities to support connection to spirituality, encouraging and assisting with connection to support services (e.g. mental health services, drug treatment, health services, housing services), creating space for a Homeless Person's Legal Clinic in Credo Cafe, and local advocacy around issues that affect people who are homeless or marginalised.

Urban Seed understands its work as ‘filling a gap’ in the traditional welfare sector. While we recognise peoples’ physical needs, such as the need for a nutritious meal or referral to a specialised service, the primary aim of our open lunch is to build relationships. For all of us, strong and trusting relationships are essential on the pathway to wholeness, stability and belonging.