THE Salvation Army is seeing a huge demand in homelessness support at its Rosebud and Frankston offices as the cost-of-living crisis and lack of housing continue to push many to the brink.
Stephen Milliken, the Salvation Army’s regional manager for Victoria East, said “demand for service is absolutely non-stop” with staff providing crisis and support services, housing assistance, and family violence outreach services and case management for people who are at risk of homelessness among others. “We do have a cost-of-living issue and there’s absolutely no two ways about that and I think the lack of affordable housing in the region compounds that,” Milliken told The News.
According to data from 2022-23, Milliken said their Rosebud office had witnessed a 67 per cent increase in services while Frankston was also “experiencing significant and high service demand”. The average age of those presenting for help was 43. “We have seen the same volume of clients in 2024 as we saw in 2023 thus we expect another significant rise in service demand,” he said.
“Our Frankston office is inundated every single day. We are usually full by about ten in the morning – we open the doors, the phones do not stop, and we’re just seeing more and more desperate people,” he said. “We’re seeing people with a range of complex needs … mental health, drug and alcohol, and family violence; it’s massive.”
Milliken said there was a significant issue with people sleeping rough which was compounded due to a “very limited crisis accommodation” on the peninsula. “Often you’re looking out of the region for options that can be in the city which then displaces people further which can be a challenge as well.”
Milliken said while demand for their services was at an all-time high, he assured the Salvation Army would provide a compassionate and practical response to those finding themselves at a crisis point. “You will get a response today. We are here because we understand people are doing it really tough at the moment and we’re always happy to talk to people and help them out and get them in case management where we can.”
Among those seeking the Salvation Army’s help was Ruth* who was previously sleeping on the Rosebud foreshore after fleeing family violence in Adelaide. She attended the Rosebud Salvation Army office and was provided crisis accommodation as well as case manager and a case plan that linked her to a GP, mental health services, trauma counselling, and medium term supported accommodation. As her situation began to stabilise Ruth, 42, was eager to enter the workforce but as she lacked qualifications, the Salvation Army funded her a complete aged care course.
Today, Ruth is living in a private rental home and working in aged care.
The alarming trend from the Salvation Army comes as a report this year by the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) also showed the number of employed people on the Mornington Peninsula seeking homelessness assistance grew by 60 per cent in the past two years. Sixty-nine per cent of the growth was from employed women seeking help, the report revealed.
“The Mornington Peninsula desperately needs the state government to build more social housing with the region facing a severe rental crisis,” CHP acting chief executive officer Tom Johnson said, noting family violence was a major driver of homelessness. “We’re seeing a really high demand for homelessness services which are almost at breaking point as demand soars.”
As reported by The News earlier this year, the Mornington Peninsula had the fourth highest level of homelessness in Victoria (“Homelessness on the rise”, The News 06/08/24).
The state government has been contacted for comment.
- Name changed to protect her identity
Homelessness Peninsula (Rosebud Office) – pen Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (phone service only) and Friday. Business Hours
17-19 Ninth Avenue, Rosebud
Ph: (03) 5986 0000
Homelessness Peninsula (Frankston Office) – Open Monday – Friday
Business Hours. 37 Ross Smith Avenue East (Opposite Frankston Station), Frankston.
Ph: (03) 9784 5050
First published in the Mornington News – 29 October 2024
