Major initiative to combat homelessness to be launched in Frankston
Published on 30 July 2021
Frankston Zero – a major initiative to combat homelessness and assist rough sleepers in Frankston City – will be launched next week as part of National Homelessness Week (1 – 7 August 2021).
Established by the Frankston City Strategic Housing and Homelessness Alliance, a strategic collaboration of 14 agencies, Frankston Zero is the culmination of two years of intensive planning to address the rising rates of rough sleeping homelessness in the municipality.
Frankston Zero – based on international best practice models to end homelessness – has reoriented the local service system to deliver a coordinated response for people sleeping rough.
Frankston Zero operates beyond traditional funding models and includes holistic support including mental health, family violence and trauma support, while working with the person to find secure housing.
Frankston City Council Mayor Kris Bolam said: “Frankston City has seen a 388 per cent increase in rough sleeping homelessness since 2016 and became recognised by the State Government as a rough sleeper hotspot in 2017.
“Through the highly coordinated approach that underscores Frankston Zero, we stand a real chance of meaningfully turning this around,” Mayor Bolam said.
Mayor Bolam added: “It’s not good enough and really a travesty that for a supposedly first world country, we still have people sleeping rough on our streets.”
Frankston Zero Chair Jackie Galloway said: “The initiative critically involves a coordinated homelessness response, where information and resources are shared, to minimise the time spent ‘experiencing homelessness’ for individual rough sleepers, and to achieve an overall rough sleeping reduction in the municipality.”
Ms Galloway added: “Frankston Zero is based on the principle that homelessness should be rare, brief and non-reoccurring.
“Frankston Zero will initially focus on rough sleeping, the most exposed and precarious form of homelessness. And through Frankston Zero, the sector aims to pool resources to find sustained housing outcomes for them. This is a significant step forward for us,” Ms Galloway said.
A Frankston Zero launch event, hosted by Mayor Bolam is scheduled for next week and will celebrate this important milestone for Frankston City – one month after the Frankston Zero model went live in Frankston City, providing an opportunity to showcase some early program success stories.
Partner agencies and stakeholders will attend the online launch along with representatives from all levels of government including the Victorian Minister for Housing, the Hon. Richard Wynne MP, the Federal Member for Dunkley, Peta Murphy MP, Senator for Victoria, David Van, the State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP, and Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region, Dr Tien Kieu. Rev Tim Costello, Frankston City local and one of Australia’s most respected community leaders on social justice issues, will give a special address.
The recent announcement from the State Government for the continued funding for local Assertive Housing and Supportive Housing Teams (Launch and NEAMI) for an additional two to four years was a crucial enabler for the delivery of Frankston Zero.
Mayor Bolam said: “Our reputation for collaborative partnerships is being borne out in this critical issue being faced by this community. There is growing evidence homelessness is impacting more people than ever before with many more under threat as challenges in the economy and pressures within families escalate. Having a local strategy will have a more meaningful impact as we face these pressures together.”
Strategic Alliance Chair and Frankston Zero Deputy Chair, Dr Gillian Kay, said Frankston Zero will strengthen communication, coordination and reduce the risk of rough sleepers falling through the gaps.
Dr Kay added: “Frankston Zero will provide the sector and Government with clear and specific information about the most vulnerable who are falling into rough sleeping and provide significantly increased clarity on the service and housing responses needed to meet these gaps and best prevent and address rough sleeping homelessness in our municipality.”
Dr Kay said Frankston Zero is currently assisting more than 60 rough sleepers including three teenagers, adding: “We’re working tirelessly to assist the most vulnerable and make a real difference in their lives – one person sleeping rough has been offered a public housing placement and another 12 have been prioritised for housing in the next few weeks.
“Our goal, through Frankston Zero, for each person sleeping rough, is to tailor services to their needs and work towards housing them as rapidly as possible,” Dr Kay said.
Frankston Zero is currently assisting a man, 37 years, and a woman, 55 years, who have been rough sleeping predominantly in Frankston City for the past five years.
The man said: “I was working but lost my job and got kicked out when I couldn’t afford the rental anymore. People don’t understand how tough it is. It can happen to anyone. My health is really bad now.”
The man added: “I’ve been out on the streets for so long – I can’t remember what it feels like to have a door to lock. Somewhere to just feel warm and safe would mean everything.”
The woman said: “Living on the street means you have no power, no fridge, and no freezer, which means we can’t go buy meat and freeze it. We can’t buy anything to keep fresh. The little money you get is gone so quick.”
For more information about Frankston Zero, please visit: https://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Your-Council/Advocacy/Tackling-Homelessness-in-Frankston-City