The Vincentian Missionaries Social Development Foundation has launched Onward Home, a transitional housing program aimed at helping homeless families in Metro Manila move toward permanent, dignified shelter.
A collaborative initiative in partnership with Depaul International and the Vincentian Family Philippines, the project seeks to provide safe and decent housing, especially crucial during natural disasters.
At the launch of the Onward Home project, four families moved into their new transition homes after undergoing screening and social preparation.
Fr. Geowen Porcincula, CM, Executive Director of the Vincentian Foundation, said:
“For the first four families, who used to live on the street, today marks the beginning of a new life. A new journey home begins here. With our partners, we open the doors of Onward Home, a safe place where families living on the streets can heal, rebuild, and thrive.”
Metro Manila’s housing crisis remains critical, with an estimated 100,000 homeless individuals, including tens of thousands of street children. Many families live under bridges, in pushcarts, or along busy roads, vulnerable to extreme weather, violence, and exploitation.
“Extreme weather makes life dangerous, but it's even worse for people living in poorly built homes,” Fr. Porcincula noted. “Flooding, typhoons, and heavy rains can destroy makeshift shelters, leaving families exposed and displaced.”
The new homes are built using Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT) developed by Base Bahay Foundation, offering structural resilience against typhoons and earthquakes.
Fr. Porcincula stressed the broader importance of stable shelter: “Shelters are vital to preventing mental health crises, exploitation, and trafficking. They also support access to education and jobs, key to escaping poverty.”
Partner-beneficiaries will undergo a 12-month formation program, including psychosocial support, livelihood training, and financial mentoring, to prepare them for permanent housing. Parents will also receive skills training through the Vincentian Foundation’s Social Enterprise Development Center.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
