A PROJECT to help homeless people in the Redlands and the person behind it has been acknowledged in Queensland Parliament.
Capalaba MP Don Brown paid tribute to the Horowai Rameka, known as Hori, who leads the Homeless United project run by Redland Community Centre.
Mr Brown said Mr Rameka had all but lost a good job and beautiful family due to a pokies addiction.
“It nearly came to the stage where he took his own life,” Mr Brown told Parliament on Tuesday.
“In a tent in Capalaba Hori hit rock bottom but had the realisation that he had to turn his life around, so he started by visiting the Redland Community Centre, like so many do in my electorate to reach out for help.”
Mr Brown said Mr Rameka had attended drug and alcohol addiction meetings, finding it useful for his pokies addiction.
”From there Hori knew that he needed to do more and started working with general manager Allison Wicks to do just that,” Mr Brown said.
“They started the Homeless United program which feeds the homeless seven days a week with home-cooked meals for breakfast and dinner, feeding about 15 to 20 people per session.
This is not just a meal but, as someone who has volunteered serving these meals, I have seen firsthand the counselling that occurs during these meals.”
Mr Brown said Mr Rameka had passed up offers for a house and remained in his tent to help others still there but had now been housed for five months and had his family back.
“They have a place now and they use the downstairs as crisis accommodation for people to come in to use their gym, make a coffee, watch TV, charge their phone and, most importantly, to have a chat to Hori and Hori’s groups that help those in our local area to get to that next stage,” Mr Brown said.
Mr Brown said Mr Rameka and Ms Wicks had pulled together businesses and community partners to help.
These include the Capalaba Warriors Rugby League club which opens its showers in the morning, local hairdressers that offer free haircuts, the Capalaba Laundromat for laundry services and coffee vans that offer free coffee and hot chocolates.
Recently the blue bus service has offered a shower and laundry service at night-time.
Mr Brown said the Capalaba Housing Department had also helped to house people who had been homeless.
Mr Brown thanked Ms Wicks and the Redland Community Centre board chairman Chris Webster and their volunteers.
“Most importantly, I want to pay respect to the local hero, Hori. You are a true champion, mate.”
