Last guest speaker was Amanda Donohoe the new CEO of Servants Community Housing.  She succeeds Matt Maudlin.  
 
Amanda has a long history with Servants, recently as Operations manager from 2010 and years before from 1989 -1992 she served as a live-in housekeeper at Carrical House.   In the interim Amanda with her husband resided in the Northern Territory working among indigenous communities in crisis housing, development and education roles.
 
Amanda’s background and current role meant that she could expertly tell us of the problems of the homeless and their needs. In Booroondara there are over 380 homeless. 
 
Consistent of the examples of individuals in the many heart rending stories which she described was the fact that mental health issues prevailed.   Often difficult to determine the origins of these conditions, there was the sad fact that they were commonly exacerbated by substance abuse.     Younger people stood a better chance for rehabilitation and a full life.  The older homeless essentially wanted a place to exist.
 
The mental issue/substance dependency combination drove many people away from regular community and family connections.  Homeless and isolation was an eventual outcome.   Often a personal space in one room of a safe rooming house was refuge.  Servants has three such homes staffed by housekeeping staff and is looking for similar real estate in our area for another, specifically to cater for homeless women.
 
Amanda noted how connecting with these people (albeit at times difficult and dangerous) was key and very often rewarding.   The typical Servant “house” has trained housekeeping staff, and was centred around a meal area/kitchen---eating meals together developed a connecting experience which could be built upon.   The model was financially self sustaining by drawing on each individuals welfare payments(charging rent) but any expansion and special items needed invariably came through external financial sponsorship----here Rotary as evidenced by our own club was a regular partner.    
 
There were many questions from the audience before Amanda closed.  Simon O’Donoghue gave a final thank you for the address and took the opportunity to present a cheque for $4000 for Servants to purchase refrigeration facilities at one of its homes. (see photo above).
 
The major fund raising effort for Servants Community Housing is associated with the 2017 "Run Melbourne"  on Sunday 30 July.   "Team Servants' will participate and is inviting joiners.
 
This is clearly a serious business and together with Vision Fitness Centre  a set of free Running Workshops are available to ready oneself for the event to maximize sponsorship contributions.
 
Check on the following web site for details and other info re Servants Community Housing.  www.servants.org.au