Council and key charity work together to support our most vulnerable
Published on 25 May 2021
Frankston City Council and key charity, Community Support Frankston (CSF), are working together to support the municipality’s most vulnerable.
CSF Chair Susan Smith said both organisations are closely collaborating to ensure those in need are supported and not left behind post COVID-19.
Ms Smith added CSF is one of the busiest providers of emergency relief in greater Melbourne and is providing vital support to some of Frankston’s most disadvantaged people.
With the onset of the pandemic last year, Council swiftly responded with increased funding and staff redeployments to bolster CSF’s emergency relief efforts.
A $500,000 grant will be considered as part of Council’s 2021/22 Budget. This is on top of additional $825,000 support as part Council’s Relief and Recovery Package in the 2020/21 Budget.
Council also recently advocated on behalf of CSF to Federal Government Ministers and Shadow Ministers in Canberra on the need for consistent ongoing federal funding.
CSF Manager Steve Phillips said: “The expansion of services at CSF included providing hot takeaway meals, fresh fruit, phone cards and personal protective equipment for our homeless community.
“Many of our clients are not eligible for income support and are reliant solely on us for their basic needs. This includes people on certain visas who are not eligible for Government support and are still out of work due to the pandemic.
“Over the last year, CSF has seen record numbers of new families and individuals reaching out for support – these are people who have never needed emergency relief before. Seventy per cent of all clients now accessing CSF services are also self-disclosing either a physical or mental health issue, and in many cases, it’s both,” Mr Phillips said.
In response, Council allocated an additional $825,000 support as part its Relief and Recovery Package in the 2020/21 Budget. This included an additional $300,000 to CSF for emergency food and equipment, as well as an additional $525,000 for Council staff redeployments at CSF.
North West Ward Cr Sue Baker said Council stepped in to provide support during the pandemic, adding: “As CSF lost 90 per cent of its volunteer base, Council increased the organisation’s staffing from two full time employees to six employees.
“Further, Council helped to cover the cost of the daily lunchtime meals program costs up to $8,000 per month and purchasing of essential gift cards for groceries, clothing, toiletries and whitegoods.
“The support also enabled payment for pantry and non-perishable (fresh fruit and vegetables), essential equipment needs such as helping CSF pay for its rented refrigeration food van, some food storage/equipment and facility needs,” Cr Baker said.
Cr Baker added a further $500,000 grant is under consideration as part of the Relief and Recovery Package in the draft 2021/22 Budget as requests for assistance continue to increase substantially at CSF. This funding and other community supports will take the total Relief and Recovery Package to $9.128 million.
Mr Phillips said the need for emergency support, such as food and medicine, and assistance with utility bills and housing, has risen dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, CSF responded to 15,722 individual requests for assistance, double that of the previous year. In the first three months of 2021, CSF has already provided to 5,903 individual requests of assistance.
CSF is seeking long term volunteers, as well as food, resources and financial aid.
To support CSF, please email csf@frankston.net or fill out a volunteer application form at https://frankston.net/volunteering/