Our story

This foundation was created in the name of Mr Edmund Roche without whom it would never have existed.  It is understood he was born in Ireland, and later in life when he came to Australia he chose to live a poor and simple life in a rented dwelling in inner-suburban Melbourne before eventually drifting into homeless life.

Mr Roche had a substantial financial estate from farming interests in Ireland, but he never utilised any of his substantial reserves for the betterment of his own life.  So often, we assume that all homeless people are in that place because of financial destitution, but it isn’t always so. 

Every homeless person has a unique story of their own, and they are often remarkable.  Mr Roche lived to the age of 78, at which time he sadly died alone, and for a period of time, was unidentified.

In his humbleness was an incredible generosity. 

A substantial portion of his estate was left to the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, and so the Order decided to set aside those monies directly into a Foundation for the benefit of the homeless and poor in his memory. 

Those funds were thus the generous seed to bear fruit for the benefit of others, and since the creation of the foundation in 2005, it has actively raised more funds and participated in directly funding a number of initiatives that align with the objects of the Foundation. 

The Foundation Trustees ensure foundation funds are only applied towards specific initiatives and not wasteful administration.  

We ask that you kindly help us to sustain the Franciscan Roche Foundation in whatever way you can.

Foundation objectives: