Oh, what a difference your donation makes at
Chances House!
Sadly, many local people are struggling with homelessness in our region.
Chances House offers meals, case management, healthcare assistance, storage lockers & essential items to people experiencing homelessness.
We provide a safe space during daytime hours which has storage lockers, toilets, pet food & water, laptop access, printer access, internet/phones, charging facilities, tea/coffee, a lounge/nap area, books, arts & crafts activities, music activities, social connection & much more. (Showers coming soon!)
We are the Mackay region’s only daily homelessness meal service, drop-in centre & healthcare program.
Watch this short video to learn more!
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A safe place to be (with air conditioning). Storage Lockers. Tea/Coffee station. Nap/Lounge area. Books, TV and Arts/Crafts area. Access to wifi, printer, computer. Phone charging station. Social connection & support. Showers coming soon!
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Monday to Friday - breakfast & light lunch available. Breakfast includes a fresh coffee.
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First Aid. GP access. Hospital support. Transportation to & from appointments when needed.
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Our intensive Case Management program offers assistance with a vast range of supports for those who have multi-faceted or complex care needs. From housing application support & assistance to mental health/rehab entry support, advocacy, ID assistance, employment and more. We do not give up on people no matter how complex their needs may be.
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We give out donated goods such as clothing & shoes, tents, sleeping bags, insect repellent, personal hygiene products & more. We also give out pet food and treats to ensure that our furry friends don’t go hungry.
Our services save, improve & change lives!
We do not currently receive any government funding. That means we rely on the generosity of lots of small donations from people like you to continue doing the vital work we do.
We work very hard to keep our administrative costs as low as possible so that your donation goes right where it’s needed most, because we know that you want it to have a real impact (and so do we!).
Please consider making a small regular (or one off) donation. It makes a huge difference to the many people we help every day.
What we’ve Achieved
We don’t just talk the talk. We walk the walk. We find gaps in our system/services and work hard to fill them with the support of our community, to ensure that people experiencing homelessness have their basic needs met, suffer less, and to create pathways our of homelessness.
Over 120,000 meals provided since 2020
Over 800 nights of crisis accommodation provided
Over 116,250 hours of companionship, support and community provided
Over 11,000 essential items given out (tents, sleeping bags, toiletries, insect spray, deodorant etc)
Mackay’s first homelessness drop-in centre opened
Mackay’s first homelessness storage lockers acquired
Chances Op Shop
If you enjoy shopping, recycling AND getting a bargain whilst supporting a local charity, then Chances Op Shop is for you!
We accept and sell a range of items from clothing, books & toys to homewares, kitchenwares & electronics.
Please don’t dump on charities - we can only accept quality, working items (no stains, holes, underwear, mattresses, car seats, broken or damaged items). Also, please remember - if you can’t lift it neither can we. Many of our volunteers are elderly. Please don’t overpack, and don’t expect us to lift items out of your vehicle for you. With up to 25 donations coming in per day, this just isn’t possible for our volunteers.
Visit us at 7 Victoria Street, Mackay. Open Wed + Thurs 9am to 3pm, and Fri + Sat 9am to 1pm.
Get Involved
Looking for a volunteering opportunity that is on-the-ground and rewarding? Look no further! We have a range of volunteering opportunities available. From Chances House to Chances Op Shop, there are various roles available.
Click the button below and fill out a volunteer application if you want to come on board.