William Booth House

A refuge to rebuild for a better tomorrow

Located in the centre of Sydney’s Surry Hills, William Booth House stands tall as a beacon of hope for those facing addiction and homelessness. Beyond shelter, it symbolises The Salvation Army’s unwavering dedication to restoring lives and illuminating the way towards a brighter future by way of shelter, crucial support, outreach and essential services.

As the issue of addiction persists, so does the need for change. The Salvation Army is spearheading the initiative to breathe new life into William Booth House, to help meet the evolving needs of this ever-changing landscape. Our hope is to transform the space to ensure it remains a guiding light — empowering people to reclaim their dignity and rewrite their stories.

Breaking chains for brighter futures

What is William Booth House?

A heritage-listed site, William Booth House is a 45-bed drug and alcohol recovery and rehabilitation service that caters to men and women.

Located in the heart of Sydney, the site — opened in 1922 — offers accommodation, counselling, and treatment options for people experiencing addiction issues, helping them move through and beyond their challenges, towards a better future.

What challenges does the site face?

Research from the Australian government suggests around 1 in 20 Australians grapple with addiction or drug misuse.

William Booth House, a safe haven for people facing addiction challenges, comprises of mostly shared facilities such as dormitories, bathrooms, living and dining areas, which are no longer suitable for implementing new models of care that focus on individual treatment, and impede program delivery to the community.

What is our plan?

As part of the redevelopment plan, The Salvation Army will transform the predominantly shared spaces into independent living, featuring 51 individual bedrooms, each with an ensuite.

The contemporary layout will enable better implementation of our new model of care for people facing addiction and homelessness, expansion of the non-residential rehabilitation programs, and provide new health and wellbeing spaces for residents.

How will this revitalisation benefit the community?

William Booth House has served and supported those most in need in inner-city Sydney since 1922.

Your generosity and support of this plan can transform lives — ensuring more people have access to vital rehabilitation and recovery services, helping them gain resilience, access education and employment opportunities and take control of their lives, which impacts not just them but also their friends, families and communities.

Rebecca’s story

Alcohol and other drug services

The Salvation Army has walked alongside Aussies in need for over a century, providing hope and help through hardship. Our alcohol and other drug services provide safe, high-quality, evidence-based support that enables people to pursue fullness of life and to improve outcomes for themselves, their families and communities.

These services are designed to help people at all stages of recovery, and can include:

detox and withdrawal management
residential rehabilitation programs
non-residential programs (including day programs, counselling, and case management services)
primary health and harm reduction service

Get involved

Your compassionate support for William Booth House offers critical assistance to individuals grappling with medical, alcohol, and drug-related crises. With your generosity, we can extend a helping hand to those in need, providing essential care, rehabilitation, and support services.

Together, we can empower individuals to overcome their challenges and embrace a healthier, brighter future, leaving a lasting impact on generations to come.

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