TO ALL AUSTRALIANS
BUILD YOUR OWN ECO-SHELTER
A project for the homeless people
This project is part of the NATIONAL MOVEMENT “NO TO HOMELESSNESS”, which aims to eradicate the homelessness in our country. Our belief is that Australians together can solve the ever growing problem of people left without the most basic necessity of life – home. If churches, volunteers, councils, seniors, charity organisations come together, soon there will be no homeless person in Australia.
We believe that every council in our country (and also most churches) can provide some vacant land for accommodating the homeless people in their districts. Homeless people may have big problems, many of them may be sick or experiencing psychological traumas and crisis of life, but they are in no way hopeless. Many of them are able to take part in some kind of work. We are sure that homeless people, if given a chance, will participate gladly in helping to build the shelters, where they will live.
If the councils/churches provide the land, and volunteers come along, beautiful eco-villages can be built – made from mud bricks, bags of soil, recyclable materials, or portable homes. The accommodations can have interesting shapes – like of animals, fairies, hats, shoes, stars, cars, balloons, space-ships etc. The villages can become tourist attractions and the people living in can manage the places. The homeless people can take part in the project, they can provide their own ideas for the shape of the shelter they wish to build and live in. Together we can create happy looking living places, which can be the beginning of a successful coming back into the society for these unfortunate people. Engaging the homeless in itself will boost their low self-esteem and it will be a great tool in the process of their healing.
Of course more ambitious projects can also be realised – for buildings containing studio accommodations and drop-in shelters, which can provide all necessary support for the homeless and long term rehabilitation programs – medical, counselling, educational assistance, gym, canteens, sporting facilities etc. There is a huge army of seniors in this country who are looking to spend their free time effectively and who will volunteer gladly in maintaining the facilities and professionally helping the needy. Farming accommodations will suit some homeless people where they can produce vegetables, look after abandoned animals. The whole idea is to provide not only living places for the homeless, but to give them a chance to participate in maintaining the villages, in organising small places for coffee drinking, eating, shopping. Some of them may cook and bake, others will look after the garden, or organise the transport to and from train stations – if they are far away, etc.
Let your district become a pioneer in creating beautiful and effective villages for the homeless Australians.
Please, contact us to arrange a meeting and see what can be done.
Marcia Malinova-Anthony – writer, artist, former radio broadcaster
PO Box 876, Melton, Victoria 3337 tel. (03) 9743 4918