Winter Shelter supporting people experiencing homelessness
Published on 22 July 2024
As the cold winter months settle over Frankston City, the Frankston Winter Shelter steps up to provide a lifeline to those experiencing homelessness.
This church-led initiative has once again proven to be an essential service in the community, offering warmth, hope, and a pathway to stability for our City's most vulnerable residents.
The initiative operates from June to August, providing much-needed respite and assistance, with local churches including Peninsula City Church, Gateway, St Anne’s, St Paul’s and St Luke’s working together to provide venues, volunteers and donations.
Homelessness can arise from various circumstances, including family breakdowns, job loss, mental health issues, domestic violence, and the rising costs of living. The Frankston Winter Shelter, in collaboration with local organisations such as Community Support Frankston, Bolton Clarke, Launch Housing and The Salvation Army Homelessness Peninsula, aims to address these issues by providing immediate relief through food, shelter, a sense of community, and connection to other services.
Last year, the shelter registered 58 guests, with 35 attending regularly. Throughout their stay, guests achieved significant milestones, with some finding employment, entering medical facilities, securing accommodation or being reunited with their families. These outcomes highlight the shelter's impact beyond just providing a place to sleep; it offers a platform for guests to regain stability and move towards a better future.
The involvement of 150 volunteers, many from local churches and community groups, underscores the community's commitment to addressing homelessness.
Volunteer Steve, from Peninsula City Church, said: “I feel like it’s important to be active in helping people who are suffering from homelessness and actually get up and do something, rather than talk about someone else doing something.
“The most rewarding part for me has been playing cards with the guests and having a ball. For me, that creates a family atmosphere where you have a meal together. It creates a really pleasant atmosphere,” Steve said.
In 2024, Frankston City Council has supported the program through assistance with the permit process, a grant to build an accessible shower and via training in supporting people in difficult situations, including those in domestic violence situations or those experiencing mental health challenges.
Frankston City Council is involved with many other homeless and housing initiatives, including Frankston Zero, which works to reduce rough sleeping by addressing the root causes of homelessness and providing long-term solutions. For a long time, the group has noted a critical shortfall in social housing across Victoria. In line with these efforts, the Victorian government recently set new housing guidelines as part of its engagement for a new plan for Victoria, aiming to build 2 million homes by 2051 to meet the demands of a growing population. For Frankston, this means an additional 36,000 homes by 2051, a crucial step towards alleviating the housing crisis and supporting initiatives like Frankston Zero and Frankston Winter Shelter in their mission to end homelessness.
Frankston Zero Chair, Jackie Galloway OAM, said: “Social housing is more than just a roof over one’s head; it provides a strong foundation from which individuals and families can build better lives. It ensures that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to live in a stable and secure home, contributing to a healthier and more inclusive community.”
“With Homelessness Week coming up in early August, it’s an important time to raise awareness and get involved in supporting our community's most vulnerable,” Ms Galloway said.
This Homelessness Week, Frankston Zero will host a free event on the 8 August 2024 at Community Support Frankston for those experiencing homelessness to link in with support services, assistance with housing, and help obtaining identification. You can learn more about Frankston Zero,here.