Bridge Back to Life Foundation

(Original Article)
communitybuilders.nsw: Create Stronger Communities: Homeless not alone at ‘Tony’s Place’

The Bridge Back to Life Foundation helps young homeless men get off the roundabout and back into the community with accommodation and living skills at ‘Tony’s Place’

There are approximately 10,000 people in Canberra who don’t have a place to live. These people need support to become visible, contributing members of the community again. The Bridge Back to Life Foundation is committed to empowering and supporting homeless male youth by providing, amongst other things, accommodation, vocational and living skills in a one stop outreach service.

‘Tony’s Place’ was officially opened on the 18th of September 2008 with three residents and has since had two more move in. It will help six young men between the age of 16 to 25 to get back on their feet again, where they are treated like residents not clients.

The Foundation came about after the tragic death of Rhonda Obad’s son, Tony. After a savage bashing at the Jolimont Centre in 1994, he spiraled into heroin use due to the stress of his many injuries. Despite a mother’s desperate attempts, Tony died of a heroin overdose. “The pain is still very deep,” says Ms Obad of her son’s death. “I had to do something or just end it all.” In channeling her pain into this Foundation, Ms Obad has found a way to help others in the community.

The help is not a handout however. The men will be vetted for residency in the house, will be expected to participate in living skills and counseling programs, and to contribute financially to the running of the house. “We don’t just want to give them a handout,” said Ms Obad. “We want them to feel and learn some responsibility.”

The mother of one of the first residents of the house is grateful and relieved for the support the Foundation will give to her son. She has tried to help her son for six years since he moved out. Now in his early 20s, she hopes the work the Foundation will do with her son will enable him to change his lifestyle and get a regular job.

The Foundation and its need to fill a house to make it a home came to the attention of local organization People Knowhow Canberra (PKC), a personal development centre who delivers life changing courses such as The Turning Point. Students participating in the 2008 Mastery and Service course took on Rhonda Obad and her work by helping to promote the Foundation and ‘Tony’s Place’.

The house was kitted out in 36 hours from generous donations from Canberran’s plus support from some local businesses such as Harvey Norman, Regency Knights Window Fashions, Marnia on Flemington, Rodneys, InRugs, Impress Printers, Papas Painting and Radio Rentals. Further support came from Aristocut hairdressers, Ozharvest, Mitchell Takeaway, and the Canberra Institute of Technology.

The house runs with kind donations from caring citizens. Donations are tax deductible.

For more information on The Bridge Back to Life Foundation or how to make a donation, visit the website at bridgebacktolife.com.au or call Rhonda Obad, founder, on 62580021 or 0432 955 073.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Published in News on 03 July, 2008

[direct link to the article]

By Julie Samaras
Eager to get its pilot program to help homeless young people up and running, the Bridge Back to Life Foundation is seeking community support to find a suitable rental home to provide a base for six young men aged from 16 to 25.
The program, the first of its kind in Canberra, aims not just to provide a bed for homeless or at-risk young men, but to help them get their lives back on track through education, training, teaching living skills, group work, support and access to medical care, over a three to six month period.
According to chief executive officer and founder of the Bridge Back to Life Foundation, Rhonda Obad, it’s all about giving the young men a hand up rather than a handout.
She was hoping to use the former McKellar pre-school for the program, but was told by the ACT Government that the building had been earmarked for other purposes. She says promises of other kinds of government support have since come to nothing, which is why she is turning to the community for help.
Participants in the pilot program will undergo a comprehensive assessment; successful candidates will then commit to making a financial contribution to their accommodation and to taking on education, training or employment opportunities.
“Harvey Norman has donated the beds, and we are after community support to help us locate suitable accommodation, and then assist in fitting it out ready for the program,” Rhonda says.
“There are about 10,000 homeless people in the ACT.”
Having lived in Canberra with her family since 1971, Rhonda is a highly qualified youth worker and 2003 ACT Australian of the Year Award Local Hero recipient. In May, she received a 2008 Centre for Leadership for Women Award in recognition of her tireless work that brings benefit to the community.
In 1994, her 19-year-old son Tony was left in a coma after being bashed in Civic in a case of mistaken identity. Left with permanent brain injuries, Tony learnt to walk again with Rhonda’s constant help; but four years later he died from a heroin overdose.
Her personal tragedy motivated Rhonda to return to studies, completing a degree in social sciences, diplomas in welfare, in drugs and alcohol and interventions, in youth, certificate 4 in youth work, and an advanced diploma of community services management.
Her vision for the Bridge Back to Life Foundation is to be recognised as an outstanding provider of specialist support services to young people at risk, and to enhance their dignity, confidence and quality of life.
After the pilot program for young men is up and running for 12 months and has been evaluated, Rhonda plans to replicate the program to assist homeless young women.

For more information, visit http://www.bridgebacktolife.com.au or email .

BY MEGAN DOHERTYCITY REPORTER

25/08/2008 1:15:00 PM

[direct link to the article]

McKellar woman Rhonda Obad has endured more than most in her life, but she has survived by choosing to help others.She is close to realising her dream of providing shelter for young homeless men in Canberra, an ambition she started working towards almost two years ago.

But the genesis of her Bridge Back to Life Foundation was the 1998 death of her son Tony from a heroin overdose.

Tony was only 19 when he was bashed in 1994 at the Jolimont Centre by three men, who were subsequently jailed.

His injuries, including brain damage, sent him into a spiral that led him to using heroin, despite the efforts of his mother to save him.

As a means to cope with her grief, Ms Obad decided to help other young people at risk by establishing the not-for-profit Bridge Back to Life Foundation in Canberra.

”When Tony died, it was do this or suicide,” she said. ”The pain was so bad, it over-ruled all common sense. It’s still very deep.”

Ms Obad is the chief executive officer of the foundation, which is run by a board, chaired by former Independent MLA Dave Rugendyke.

”Our board takes the view that we need to make a difference within our own backyard, meaning Canberra, before we put our resources elsewhere,” she said.

The foundation has a program to help homeless males aged 16 to 25.

It has just secured a private rental property in Belconnen, where it will house six young men at a time for three to six months. The residents will be vetted by the board and will be put through a living skills program.

The aim is to have them reunite, if possible, with their families, get into training and other education and find permanent employment.

Some businesses have already donated furniture and other items, but the foundation is seeking more assistance.

All the men will have to pay some rent and contribute towards bills.

”We want to give them a helping hand, but also make sure they learn some responsibility,” Ms Obad said.

A Canberra mother, who did not want to be named, has tried to help her son, now in his early 20s, for at least six years after he moved out of the family home and lived on friends’ couches, cars, or anywhere he could find.

Her son has decided to become one of the first tenants in the Bridge Back to Life house. She hopes it will be the breakthrough the whole family needs.

”I think as a parent you can only do so much, then you need help. This is the answer to my prayers,” the mother said. ”It’s a chance for him to get his life back. Hopefully he will change his lifestyle and find steady employment and get back to being the person he used to be.”

Ms Obad plans to have the home up and running by early next month.

”There’s no need for homelessness if we all take the initiative… and this is an example of what we can do.

”We’ll make a difference.”

Anyone who would like to donate items, from furniture to kitchen utensils to pictures for the walls, can contact Ms Obad on 62580021.