A POTENTIAL resurrection of the City Life services to help the homeless in Frankston is being discussed by Frankston Council behind closed doors.
Jubilee Church pastor Mark Whitby, CEO and founder of City Life, met with Frankston Breakfast Club representatives, councillors and council officers on Monday 16 January in talks described as “very positive and constructive” by council.
City Life and the breakfast club stopped dishing up meals to the homeless and disadvantaged in July last year before City Life’s leased Clyde St Mall premises, near Bayside Shopping Centre, was demolished to make way for a new apartment complex.
Negotiations between City Life and the state government over alternative digs for the charity collapsed without agreement before the demolition of the Clyde St Mall building.
“Having the opportunity to talk one-on-one with City Life and Breakfast Club representatives has been a great way to get the ball rolling,” Frankston mayor Cr Brian Cunial said in council’s statement about the meeting.
“While no formal decisions were made the meeting was encouraging, with council officers instructed to undertake further investigation into the matters raised in order for all parties to reconvene in six weeks’ time.
“It was important for Frankston City Council to understand where City Life are currently placed in order to know how to best assist them and to determine what role council may have going forward.”
Cr Cunial said it would be “premature” to disclose exactly what was discussed at the meeting.
It is understood the council-managed Ebdale Community Hub in Ebdale St has been identified as a possible new location for City Life to resume dishing up meals.
The charity continues to operate an op shop in Station St.
Pastor Whitby said the organisation wants to work with council to bring its services back to Frankston.
“We’re hoping we’ll be able to negotiate a space in the city and that City Life has another season,” he said.
“Since we’ve been gone the need has certainly not gone away. There are definitely issues in the city with the homeless and disadvantaged.”
The state government is pushing ahead with plans to help homeless people, rough sleepers and the mentally ill with temporary accommodation as part of a $3.5 million ‘Haven Home Safe’ partnership under a Rapid Housing Assistance program.
Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke has also announced 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 Angus Martin House in Frankston.
