Homes for the homeless men. ‘It's more than just a roof over their heads’
Pastor Dale Dowler with Dean who will be one of the first residents.
Inside one of the self-contained units. Picture Courtesy: Craig Burrows - iPH Creative Studios
Men living on the streets in Nambour will soon have a place they can call home.
The Shack in Nambour today officially opened the only men’s housing project on the Sunshine Coast.
Designed to integrate homeless men into the community, Gen One includes a community hub for its residents as well as six fully self-contained units, including one with disability access. There is also a unit for an onsite manager.
The Shack Pastor Dale Dowler said the project – made possible with the help of $500,000 in federal funding – would make a huge difference in the lives of the men who would pass through the facility.
He said while the Shack had been providing services to the community’s homeless and vulnerable for over 20 years, this was the organisation’s first housing project.
In recognising homelessness as a complex problem Pastor Dale said Gen One was not only about putting a roof over men’s heads.
“The housing provides a safe space,” he said. “Gen One will provide wrap-around programs that will provide individualised services to help men transition from hardship and isolation back into active engagement in the community with services including counselling and assistance with training and gaining employment.”
The Gen One units have been purpose-built and are a result of collaboration between local designer Graham Green and builder Al and Julie Lennox. Their work, combined with invaluable support from government agencies, suppliers and local trades people, has created individual self-contained spaces, as well as a community hub where residents can come together and access services.
Pastor Dowler said the residents would also be able to access the Shack’s other services and programs, which currently assist more than 14,000 people a year.
LANHAM FAMILY DONATES LAND
Pastor Dowler said the site of the new centre was provided by the Lanham family who had been Nambour stalwarts for more than 110 years.
“The Lanham’s and in particular the family’s matriarch Peggy Lanham have been committed to the local community for more than a century and that is why we are proud to honour Peggy and the Lanham family by naming the main entry into Gen One, Peggy Lane,” Pastor Dowler said.
Tim and David Lanham, who continue to be part of the Sunshine Mitre 10 group group as well as representing the Lanham Family Trust, said they were touched to have their mother honoured as part of the project.
“The Nambour community is part of our family’s history, and we are proud to be part of this project,” Tim said. “Mum and Dad would be so pleased to see the legacy left by their passing being used to support some of our community’s most vulnerable.”
"EXTRAORDINARY KINDNESS AND CAPABILITY"
Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said he was delighted to officially open the facility.
“Seeing this project built is vitally important to men who need help, and it’s a prime example of what can be achieved by local leadership with government support,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Knowing the extraordinary kindness and capability of Dale and his team at the Shack, I am confident that this purpose-built shelter will be life-changing for countless men who find themselves in trouble.”