Premier promises rent free new home for The Outpost Inc.

LOCAL five-year-old Charlotte O’Brien’s fundraising drive for homeless support service The Outpost Inc. is attracting some big name support as she reaches the home stretch of her one-kilometre run a day for 30 days campaign.

With three days to go and having already smashed her initial goal of $500, approaching $7000 at the time of print, she’s helped raise the issue of The Outpost’s search for a new home to the Victorian Premiers’ office.

“There is an issue where we have an outstanding homeless service that may well become homeless, and we don’t want that,” Daniel Andrews said in Geelong on Tuesday.

Standing beside Geelong MP Christine Couzens, the Premier said if re-elected his government would provide The Outpost with $50,000 “and then we will work, Chris and I, and relevant ministers will work to find a permanent home for Outpost”.

“We will put the full resources of the government to bear on this and we’ll find a home for them and it will be on that peppercorn basis,” Mr Andrews said.

The service has been given a March 2023 exit date from its home of 22 years in the City of Greater Geelong’s Busport Carpark, and its unsuccessfully lobbied council to help find a new home for the only nighttime meal service for the homeless.

“If no one was helping them they wouldn’t have meals or water,” Charlotte O’Brien said of her decision to support The Outpost.

Inspired by Nedd Brockman, whose 4,000-kilometre run across Australia from Cottlesloe to Bondi that raised millions for homeless charities, Charlotte said “if he was doing it then I could do it.”

Hearing of her campaign, Mr Brockman has joined the community that’s rallying behind Charlotte.
“You are the most incredible little girl, one kilometre a day for 30 days is unbelievable,” he said.

“To have raised the money you have already raised is just unbelievable for the homeless and it will go so far in helping them… I’m inspired by you and am so grateful that I’ve been able to inspire you to get out, get uncomfortable and help people.”

The Outpost vice-president Amy Flint said the funds raised so far by Charlotte equate to over 3,000 meals.

“What that means is that people can come and attend The Outpost and get a warm healthy meal every night of the year and its due to Charlotte’s running and dedication that we’re able to provide that to them,” she said.

Charlotte’s run finishes on November 21, to donate visit: gofundme.com/f/1km-a-day-for-30days-for-the-homeless