By Luke Voogt
Thousands will freeze on the streets of Melbourne and Geelong this winter as they search for a roof over their head.
But for the past year Ocean Grove’s Steve Neville has raised money for beds and clothes to help the homeless to stave off the chill.
“I sat down and thought about what it was like when I was out on the street,” said Steve, who was homeless for several years two decades ago.
“(Thermal underwear) was the difference between being freezing cold and not freezing cold during the winter. That’s why I do it.”
Steve has provided about 600 portable beds for the homeless since May 2016, along with clothes and thermals.
“When people haven’t seen me and don’t know what I’m doing they ask ‘are you selling these?’”
“But when they realise what I’m doing … all of a sudden they light up.”
He fondly remembered giving clothes and a portable bed to a woman (pictured) at St Kilda.
“That lady gave me five hugs,” he said. “She was so stoked.”
Earlier this month, comedians Rohan ‘Bizarre’ Gazzard and Adam ‘Chicken’ Palmer teamed up to raise $864 for Steve’s quest.
“It was better than the last one,” he said. “The last fund-raiser actually cost me money, so I was kind of shattered.”
Steve bought another 20 beds with $500 and has spent much of the rest on jackets, thermals, shoes and tracksuits pants.
The beds don’t just help the homeless survive, he said. They also prevent long-term health problems and ambulance callouts from cold-related illnesses.
“That, in turn, helps the public health system and helps Australian taxpayers save money.”
He has posted photos of people receiving the beds on social media.
“People give me their money and they trust that I do what I’m going to do with it,” he said. “That’s what why I like to take those photos.”
Steve encouraged locals to donate to his quest and said even a dollar a week could make a difference.
“I’m not a great person, I’m just doing what I think every person should do.”
“I can see a really bright future. If I can make it go viral and hundred thousand people gave me a dollar a week, imagine the difference I could make.”
Magic Memorabilia donated a few posters for Steve to auction at the recent comedy night.
One, a Collingwood poster signed by legends such as the beloved and recently deceased Lou Richards, could be worth thousands.
“But I’m going to hold off on selling that out of respect for a little while,” Steve said.
