Volunteers strive to build our first homeless shelter

Andrew Mathieson
AN INVALID pensioner is leading volunteers on a mission to raise up to $50 million to build Geelong’s first homeless shelter.
His grand plans are to house 50 families in separate living quarters of four or five beds next to kitchens, doctor’s surgeries, recreational areas and a central administration on a two-hectare rural block.
Lara’s Andrew Podolak expects to take four years to reach his fundraising target of $35 million to $50 million from business and community donations and government funding.
Mr Podolak said he was preparing to meet banks about his business plan, which had been under development since November.
“I’ve got many, many ideas of how to raise money but I’m not trying to re-invent the wheel with charity,” he said.
Mr Podolak rallied a group of “sick pensioners” to form Shelter for the Homeless Foundation, which had called for 300 volunteers to commit 12 hours a week to collect public donations.
Mr Podolak said he was motivated to take action after an accident in which a rubbish truck crushed and killed a homeless man sleeping in a commercial mini bin.
Despite battling on his own fixed budget, he said finding beds for increasing numbers of homeless people in Geelong was his priority.
“It’s about the homeless people and what Geelong needs. You wouldn’t be aware of how many people out there are sleeping in cars, under bridges and in rubbish bins.”
Mr Podolak said anyone seeking more information on his fundraising mission could visit www.shelterforthehomelessfoundation.org or phone him on 0412 107 555.