Bahay Tuluyan was founded in 1987 by Fr John Gallagher, an Irish Columban priest who was based at Malate Catholic Church. He was supported in his task by a group of individuals including Fr Bernard O'Connor and Edward Gerlock, concerned citizens and support groups in the Philippines, United States of America and Canada. It was established in response to the growing number of street children in the Malate area of Manila, then a haven for tourists.
Bahay Tuluyan began as a program for street children conducting initial activities facilitated by the staff in the street. These included celebrating Saturday afternoon mass, occasional art workshops, small economic activities like polvoron making and a feeding program for street children.
The Malate Catholic Church (which was itself involved in the formation of Basic Christian Communities in the area, believing that in spite of their poverty, the communities have resources to help them answer their needs) provided rooms for Bahay Tuluyan in the Parish Center. The ground floor was renovated with a modest grant from the Australian Embassy. Bahay Tuluyan began as a drop in center, where children could go to have a bath, rest, eat or play. However as many of the children visiting the center had nowhere to sleep at night, the center quickly developed into a temporary shelter.
