A COALITION of the willing will step in to fill the void left by the closure of City Life’s cafe and restaurant that provided free meals to Frankston’s homeless and vulnerable.
Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke announced last week that disability services organisation Wallara will work with charity Wintringham “to provide affordable housing, outreach services, meals production and training opportunities for people with disabilities” at Wintringham’s Angus Martin House in Frankston.
Pastor Mark Whitby announced the closure of the Clyde St Mall cafe this month with construction on a $16 million five-storey apartment set to begin at the charity’s rented premises after negotiations over several months with the state government over alternative accommodation for the charity failed to reach an agreement.
Mr Edbrooke had previously revealed Wintringham had accepted $300,000 in state government funding to provide meal and support services in Frankston.
“I am also working with Frankston City Council, Community Support Frankston, Brotherhood of St Laurence and Peninsula Health to ensure that the integrated care services previously delivered at City Life will continue to be provided to our community’s most needy,” Mr Edbrooke said in a statement last week.
“I said I would ensure that these vital services for our most needy would be secured for the future and I have. This network of partnerships will create long term and increased capacity to assist the broad cross section of disadvantaged people in our community.”
Statements issued by Winteringham, Wallara, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Peninsula Health welcomed the opportunity to help homeless and disadvantaged people in Frankston with the aid of state government funding on top of the $300,000 accepted by Wintringham.
“Through our partnership with the state government, we are delighted to be extending our current service delivery in Frankston by making available our kitchen at our recently acquired Angus Martin House for the production of meals,” Wintringham CEO Bryan Lipmann said.
“In addition to this important meals production and training service with Wallara, we are also providing 43 units of affordable housing and outreach services to address the housing and support needs of older homeless people in our community. Wintringham’s recent purchase of Angus Martin house in Frankston has been enabled by the generosity of the Peter and Lyndy White Foundation.”
Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley said council will offer meals and support services from some of its community centres.
“During the period between City Life meals closure and the Wintringham and Wallara meals service commencing, we will provide meals for distribution from our Meals on Wheels service,” he said.
