AFL’s unsung heroes have, unbeknownst to the public, been working with Melbourne’s homeless, disadvantaged and mentally ill people, inspiring the Victorian State Government, among others, to build a new homeless youth shelter in Melbourne.

Richmond and Essendon footy players Joel Bowden and Mark Bolton have been out late, on their own time during the weeks for several months, working to help feed, care for and encourage numerous homeless, disadvantaged and mentally ill people on the streets of Melbourne.
And they’ve managed, for a long time, to keep it all under their belts.
The benevolent AFL guys have inspired the State Government, the AFL Foundation and the AFL Players’ Association to team upto work ona project constructing and running a house for homeless youth in the inner suburbs of Victoria.
The house will offer supportive programs helping residents to find and achieve their life’s potential through direct mentorship programs set up with AFL players.
The project won’t just be beneficial for Australia’s youth at risk it will also provide footy stars with the opportunity to learn essential life skills.
Through fundraising activities and corporate sponsorship, the AFL Foundation and the AFL Players’ Association have both committed to raising $3 million over the next five years.
And they don’t anticipate that this will be the only shelter, just the first.
The AFL Foundation and the AFL Players’ Association hope to see, not just the building of this AFL homeless shelter, but the building of lives and of more programs and shelters across the nation in years to come.