Samaritan gives his time to help needy
Port Kennedy man Owen Farmer describes himself as a supporter of people experiencing homelessness in Rockingham.
The 59-year-old opens his home to people who need a bed for the night, a shower or even just a cup of tea to warm them up.
During the past seven months alone he has helped 16 people needing basic food, shelter, clothes or blankets.
Mr Farmer said his journey to helping others began after he helped himself overcome alcoholism.
Now 19 years sober, Mr Farmer said he had learned life was not all “peaches and cream” and people needed a helping hand now and then.
“After I had recovered I began volunteering my time to Alcoholics Anonymous to help others become sober all around WA and the Eastern States, going off on pilgrimages,” he said.
“We have gatherings and drop-ins to tell our story and offer experience, strength and hope to people.”
Mr Farmer said he extended his volunteer work to driving the Soul Soup Kitchen van about six years ago, which opened his eyes to the needs within the community.
“From then on it sort of touched me a little bit more in regards to seeing people around the area really doing it tough and I got to know everyone,” he said.
Mr Farmer said his time at the soup kitchen led him to the Rockingham Salvation Army where he became friends with many of the patrons.
“They are doing it really tough this year because winter has been shocking,” he said.
“They are my friends, they are equals, and they are allowed to come to my home for a shower, sit in my lounge room or enjoy a barbecue in my backyard.
“Me, I’m not a financial person, I’m on the disability pension myself, but it does good for me mentally, through my depression, helping other people.”
He said he believed what he was doing was “the right thing to do”.
“Working with the people I do now, I know that for one night they are comfortable,” he said.
“All you have to do in life is save one person, you can’t save the whole world, just one.”
Mr Farmer is supporting Jonathan Shapiera, who made a submission to a Federal Parliament Senate Committee inquiry into affordable housing, to shine a light on homelessness.
