NEWS DESK
Organisations team up to help rough sleepers MORE work will be done to combat the rising rate of local homelessness. There has been a 388 per cent increase in rough sleeping homelessness in Frankston since 2016, council says. As part of National Homelessness Week this week, a program will be launched that sees 14 local agencies team up to tackle the issue. Frankston Zero has been established by the Frankston City Strategic Housing and Homelessness Alliance. The chair of the alliance, Dr Gillian Kay, said “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.” More than 60 rough sleepers are currently receiving assistance through the Frankston Zero initiative. “We’re working tirelessly to assist the most vulnerable and make a real difference in their lives – one person sleeping rough has been of-
fered a public housing placement and another 12 have been prioritised for housing in the next few weeks,” Dr Kay said. “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.” One man currently receiving assistance from the initiative 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. 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.” 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.”
“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,” she said. Frankston Zero will be officially launched this week. For more information visit rankston.vic.gov.au/ Your-Council/Advocacy/TacklingHomelessness-in-Frankston-City
Support for sports
GRANTS have been handed to 12 young local athletes to help them take part in competitions. The successful applicants for the Dunkley Local Sporting Champions grant program will receive between $500 and $700. The funding will go towards travel, accommodation, uniforms, or equipment. Dunkley MP Peta Murphy said “with all eyes on the Tokyo Olympic games, it’s a terrific time to recognise some of our upcoming local sporting talent.” “This round was particularly competitive, so I’d like to congratulate the successful applicants. Dunkley has a rich and varied sporting history and it’s great to see so many different sports represented including basketball, athletics, gymnastics, baseball and others,” she said. To apply for sports grants visit sportaus.gov. au or call Ms Murphy’s office on 9781 2333. DUNKLEY MP Peta Murphy with young archer Jai. Picture: Supplied
Drawing up art plans
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Frankston Times
3 August 2021
PATTERSON River trail could become the home of an ambitious public art program. At their 26 July meeting, Kingston councillors ordered a report to assess the creation of “a network of contemporary arts and cultural trails throughout Kingston, featuring artistic works by recognised professional artists along high-profile cultural trails including the Patterson River trail”. The report will outline a plan to fund the public art works as part of council’s five year capital works programme and operational budget “including the allocation of two per cent of the budget for open space and building projects over $1,000,000 and ongoing funding for curation, staffing and maintenance of the works.” At least three works could be installed on the Patterson River trail. Council will investigate external funding opportunities to help pay for the art. Council will also receive a second report to look into the merits of a public art strategy and ongoing annual budget. The first report is due back to council in November.