THE best way to help someone who has found themselves in the cold and homeless may be to build them a house and give them regular work.
That’s exactly what a small group of Shepparton advocates are setting about doing, and is calling on community support to get their project off the ground.
Shepparton restaurant owner Azem Elmaz, along with homeless advocate Kim O’Keeffe, are looking for land to create a hobby farm and accommodation where homeless people can live and work.
According to Mrs O’Keeffe, the house would be home to about six people who can set about work in small-scale horticulture.
“We have very strong aspirations and confidence within the community to help support our homeless people,” Mrs O’Keeffe said.
“It will give them that sense of a place to call home, and a normal type of lifestyle where they have to get up and go to work, they have to plant some vegetables, they have to really look at what their contribution is to that residence.
“It’s a big aspiration. Azem has had this project in his mind for a very long time.”
Mr Elmaz, who worked as a chaplain at the Dhurringile prison near Murchison for seven years, said he knows first-hand the value of creating an environment that encourages participation and a sense of pride.
The group said they had already received a positive response with some land suggestions offered.
Supporting the project from St Brendan’s Catholic Parish is Father Joe Taylor and Brett O’Keeffe from Shepparton headspace.
Anyone willing to support the project can contact Mr Elmaz on 0418 897 209 or Mrs O’Keeffe on 0447 713 838.
