Toowoomba couple draw on experiences to aid city's homeless

THE phrase "character is made, not born'' holds a special significance to Base Services operators Nat and Tiff Spary. Here's how Base Services has grown.

GAME CHANGER: Tiff and Nat Spary outside new social enterprise Second Shot Espresso, which opened in 2018. Picture: Bev Lacey

THE phrase "character is made, not born'' holds a special significance to Base Services operators Nat and Tiff Spary.

Having overcome personal adversities, humble beginnings and the threat of closure, the duo has not only seen examples of this in the homeless community, but also proved it.

Tiff credited her Toowoomba upbringing for teaching her charity, saying a TV segment had helped to kick-start her passion for helping others.

Born in Sydney, a difficult home life caused Nat to take to the streets when he was 15. He now uses the experience to relate to others.

"I was very broken during that time, I was just running around the streets with other street kids," Nat said.

"I was full of fears and I had a lot of hurts. I wasn't sure who I was.

"What I learnt is it's important not to judge, because that will never help. What the (homeless youth) need is someone to walk beside them."

The pair first met in a friend's car in the late '90s, but admitted they didn't immediately hit it off.

"Two years later we enrolled in the same TAFE course, we did a diploma in community services," Tiff said.

"Over that two years, we formed a relationship - we both had it in our hearts to help people."

During the early 2000s, the couple started to run a youth group out of the garage of their house, while volunteering at The Basement Soup Kitchen.

"We saw so many young people who were disengaged;, it was a real loss and such a great need. It really started from there," Tiff said.

"It was cool in a way, so many great things have started out of the garage," Nat said.

When The Basement Soup Kitchen was threatened with closure in 2015, Nat and Tiff stepped up to the challenge of running the service.

"We knew it was vital," Nat said.

"So that's when we decided to get help from the community. We incorporated (the service) and held our first homeless for a week fundraiser to help save it."

Since then the service has gone from strength to strength. This year's homeless for a week campaign raised more than $110,000 and the couple has recently opened Second Shot Espresso, a social initiative that helps those living on the streets to gain employment.

Last night they celebrated as 14 people overcame their own adversities to secure certificates through the enterprise.

"Their lives have just changed. We have people graduating who have been sleeping in their cars, now they have training in hospitality. You see all these different people come together," Nat said.

"Sometimes people say when you do things for a long time, you lose your passion - but for me, time has only brought more compassion," Tiff said.

Originally published as Toowoomba couple draw on experiences to aid city's homeless