Gympie homeless committee generating community change

Marlene Owen recruited the help of school students and Gympie scouts to feed the homeless in Nelson Reserve, and the next step in generating permanent change for the better in our community revolution is on the horizon.

Homeless man Dan Seymour at the Six Mile at Gympie

As the number of residents facing homelessness in Gympie increases each day, a group of people lead by a well-known social justice advocate is striving for change.

Marlene Owen is well known in the community for her social justice initiatives, and now she is setting her sights on helping the growing homeless population in the region through solidarity.

Marlene Owen is leading the charge to generate change in the Gympie community.

The Gympie region is in the midst of the tightest rental squeeze in recent history, with residents running out of options facing homelessness and living in their cars or camping in rest areas. It is also in the midst of a property boom.

Mrs Owen, who is no stranger to social justice issues, has her sights set on obtaining land from the council to build a homeless shelter, and is one step closer to her goal, with the recent formation of a committee.

“We’re in the middle of forming a committee, so that when I go to visit or see the local member, the federal member, the mayor, I’m not just going as me, I’m representing the committee,” she said.

Mrs Owen said the committee had 10 members including herself, and once functional it would be able to apply for government funding, which she hoped would help achieve their goal of a homeless shelter.

MORE GYMPIE NEWS: Is there something in the water at Gympie Hospital?

“We’ve had a couple of meetings, and we’re just fine-tuning our paperwork,” she said.

She said she already had several meetings with Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig about the growing problem, and the council was aware of the committees initiative.

“Glen knows when I get my head around something, I don’t give up,” she said.

Marlene Owen said she has met with Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig several times, and he and the council were aware of her plans to build a homeless shelter in Gympie.

Mrs Owen said facilities and services available to homeless people in Gympie were limited, but organisations such as the Salvation Army provided residents with a hot shower.

MORE GYMPIE NEWS: Union claims council investigations are ‘shonky’

She was joined by students of St Patrick’s High School and the Gympie Scouts to help feed the homeless this week, and said the nights were a huge success in teaching the young people about the issues facing their community.

“The fact it is getting out and people are working together, to make life a little bit easier for these unfortunate people is amazing,” she said.

“Not every (homeless person) is a drug addict, or an alcoholic, or has a gambling problem.”

Originally published as Gympie homeless committee generating community change