Homeless Economics

Source: Good Weekend Magazine (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Jeff Gambin is one of Sydney's great treasures. Each night, he and his wife, Alina, load up their Range Rover with food they've cooked themselves and leftovers they've collected from restaurants, and set out to feed the growing ranks of Sydney's homeless. It's good food, too: pastas, roasts, vegetables and stews. They are out there every night without fail, some nights feeding 300 to 400 people. Pension nights are slower and they have time to stop and chat, and look for people to help.

Gambin (pictured) is from a Tibetian family who owned tea plantations in northern India. "I had an incredibly privileged childhood, but we lost it all and my family moved to Australia," he says. "I have always been aware of how fortunate I've been." In Perth he got involved in business from an early age, then moved to Sydney and ran car yards, restaurants and nightclubs.

And then one day, about six years ago, his life changed. One of his ventures, a nightclub, had turned bad and a long relationship had come to an end. "I was sitting down in Martin Place for ages, just thinking and smoking. It turned to night and this old homeless fellow came up and offered me his blanket and said, 'Here, you'll need this more than I do.' I was just so moved by his generosity. I promised I would come back and help. I started feeding a few and then it just grew and grew."

Feeding the homeless, though, is just keeping them alive.

About eight months ago, Gambin was given a rundown 10-hectare market garden on Sydney's western outskirts. It is in the process of being transformed. Neat rows of caravans have appeared, with plans for plantings of lettuce, tomatoes, pumpkins, onions, spuds, chillies and garlic. Labour will come from the ranks of Sydney's homeless. "I'll bring a couple of dozen of them up here for three, four, five months. There's no need for them to spend any money; they can use the money they save [from welfare payments] for a bond, or to pay fines, and along the way learn some new skills. Some living skills"

The Gambins can be contacted at Just Enough Faith on 0412 546 248.