Paper: The Northside Chronicle
Issue: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
By Meredith Clisby
TONY’S Place is now more than just a house, it’s a home.
The Belconnen-based refuge for homeless was officially opened and blessed last week.
It is a big step forward for Bridge Back to Life Foundation’s Rhonda Obad who has dedicated her life to helping the young men other people have given up on.
Ms Obad started the foundation after the tragic death of her son Tony from a heroin overdose in 1988.
Tony’s Place was initially a rental property, but through donations and support the foundation was recently able to purchase a permanent place to live.
The foundation provides a supportive experience for the men, who receive a place to live and go through a living skills program to gain the independence to move into their own home. Since it began about nine men have moved successfully through the system.
The home’s longest staying resident Shannon Fitzallen, said living at Tony’s Place had made a big difference to his life.
After being kicked out of home in Darwin, Mr Fitzallen found himself in Canberra where he became homeless and was “refuge hopping” for five months.
Then he became a resident at Tony’s Place.
“It’s a more stable lifestyle – I have a bed I can sleep in, food I can cook,” he said.
The stability has enabled him to resolve personal issues and have a more positive approach to life.
He is studying an advanced diploma of screen and media at CIT and is waiting to move into his own home when he makes it to the top of the ACT Housing list.
He said without Ms Obad’s help things would have been different.
“Rhonda’s my adopted mum, she’s pretty much like that to all of us, we’re pretty much like a family in this house,” he said.
“Everybody here loves Rhonda; and once I leave here I’ll still come back and help.”
Ms Obad said it was this strong family connection that enabled the men to move out on their own.
“It’s just so important when they move into their own place, they want to feel they belong, that they’re part of the community,” She said.
“You become very fond of them when you’ve had them for such a long time.”
The Foundation has big plans for the home with work already starting on the construction of two independent units in the backyard.
The units will be used to gain more independent living experience before the young men move into their own home.
While Ms Obad said they had already received incredible support from the community, people were being asked to dig deep to help a worthy cause.
She has also asked the ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell for the donation of two solar hot water units but as yet not had a response.
The Bridge back to Life Foundation will be holding a black tie fundraising event on Saturday, June 18 to raise money for the building of the two units.
More details can be found at www.bridgebacktolife.com.au.
Ms Obad said the units would help the lives of homeless men in the region.
“We are all fully aware there’s not enough accommodation in Canberra, governments can only do so much,” she said.
