Mount Gambier man and Zimbabwe migrant Oathman Fazilahmed is self-funding a crisis accommodation and wellness centre in the heart of the Blue Lake city, inspired by the loss of his 18-month-old daughter Hadiya.

Mr Fazilahmed said Hadiya tragically passed away last year following a liver transplant.

“Everything I am doing is to keep her memory alive,” he said.

“That is my motivation and my drive to do all of this.

“I was at the crossroads and I was like ‘what do I do? What is next’?”

“I got messages right from God himself to say, ‘go and do this and see how it goes’.

“We can all change the world every day, one step at a time and one act of kindness at a time.”

Mr Fazilahmed said he was inspired to act after seeing the increased levels of homelessness within Mount Gambier.

“I have seen people sleep on the street every night,” he said.

“We have so much land and all this stuff in a city of only 30,000 people, how is that still happening?

“It’s about letting them have a life that we all want.

“Maybe some people have made the choices they have made, but they need to be supported by that as well.

“We have all made mistakes. I’m not perfect, but then I would not find myself here if I was the perfect person.”

Mr Fazilahmed said the facility would be named Gashungo Support Service after his family totem, as well as the name of a cow his grandmother used to own in his native country.

“Everyone loved the cow and it was always about love and acceptance for everyone,” he said.

“I get to carry on my family’s memory by honouring them and living by their values as well as sharing them with the community.

“People come in as they need. Obviously there’s a need and as sad as it is we can only do 10 beds depending on how it goes, which is why I need the support from the community.

“The community can support us by talking about us and joining us on this mission because we should have nobody on the streets – and people out there should not be scared of asking for help.”

The impressive facility will host 10 beds, showers, toilets, a kitchen, fridge, patio area, vegetable garden, dining area, projector and store front.

The centre will be open for anyone, whether they are homeless, LGBTQIA+, experiencing mental health issues or just want to pop in for a coffee and a chat during the day.

Mr Fazilhamed said his aim was to help individuals get off the streets and become self-sufficient.

“Our program is to help people get into employment and train as well,” he said.

“I’m working with SWC training at the moment, they want to come here and maybe do a commercial kitchen cookery enterprise where we’re teaching people to cook.

“Hopefully once we do what we do, then the government can come behind us as well.”

The facility, located at 3 Elizabeth Street, is set to open on January 15.