Frankston City Council will put $100,000 towards free legal services for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents, in a move local advocates say is urgently needed as housing stress and cost-of-living pressures deepen.
The funding, announced on 21 August, will allow the Peninsula Community Legal Centre (PCLC) to expand its reach through two programs: a school-based lawyer service and additional tenancy support for renters.
Youth focus amid high family violence rates
Under the initiative, PCLC lawyers will be placed in local secondary schools two days a week, providing advice, casework and representation to about 250 students. Advocates say Frankston’s higher than average rates of family violence mean young people often face complex legal and personal challenges at an early age.
“Programs in schools are about more than just information,” PCLC chief executive Jackie Galloway said.
“They create safe spaces where young people can talk about their rights and know where to go for help.”
Renters under pressure
The second program will see PCLC expand its free tenancy legal service to three days per week, supporting an estimated 350 residents over the next year. That includes renters, caravan park residents and people in rooming houses — groups often at heightened risk of eviction or homelessness.
Local tenancy advocates have long argued that Frankston’s rising rental costs, coupled with limited affordable housing, are pushing more households into crisis. Tribunal representation and legal advice, they say, can be the difference between keeping a roof overhead and losing it.
Part of a broader package
The legal services funding sits within Council’s $425,000 Local Support Package, which is backing 25 community organisations. Council says the package is designed to ease the strain on services facing record demand as the cost-of-living crisis continues.
Cr Sue Baker said supporting legal services would give residents “the tools and support they need to understand their rights, access help when they need it, and feel confident navigating the legal system.”
Wider implications
The move comes as councils across Victoria grapple with growing community need and limited budgets. By targeting legal help for both young people and renters, Frankston has signalled a focus on prevention — keeping people connected to school, work and stable housing before problems spiral.
