Frankston’s rough sleeping crisis has reached its highest recorded level in four years, with Council calling for urgent state funding to put more outreach workers on the ground.
Frankston City Council says 59 people were sleeping rough in May. That is the highest number recorded since the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Zero Project began in 2021.
The project also listed 92 people as actively experiencing homelessness in May.
Council now wants the State Government to provide $2.5 million over four years to fund two dedicated outreach teams across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.
The teams would work directly with people sleeping rough, connect them with services and help move them towards stable housing.
The funding push comes as Frankston Mayor Sue Baker and Council chief executive Tennille Bradley take part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
Council says the event gives local leaders a chance to raise awareness, but the latest figures show the issue needs more than awareness.
Rough sleeping reaches record local level
The Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Zero Project tracks people experiencing homelessness through a By-Name List.
Since 2021, 361 people have been added to that list.
Council says 92 people remained active on the list in May, with 59 sleeping rough.
That means more people are living without stable shelter across the Frankston area, despite years of local work to identify and support those at risk.
The figures also show the pressure on local services, which continue to deal with rising demand for housing, crisis support and outreach.
Council wants more workers on the ground
Council says the $2.5 million funding request would create two dedicated outreach teams.
Those teams would work across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, where homelessness services already face growing demand.
Outreach workers play a key role in finding people sleeping rough, building trust and linking them with support.
Without enough workers, vulnerable people can stay disconnected from services for longer.
That can leave people sleeping in cars, tents, parks, reserves and unsafe temporary arrangements.
State Government response needed
Council has put the request to the State Government as homelessness remains a visible issue across Frankston.
The latest figures now give the government a clear local measure of the problem.
For residents, service providers and people sleeping rough, the key question is whether the funding request will lead to extra support.
Frankston Council says the numbers have reached the highest level recorded since the local Zero Project began.
The next step is whether the State Government funds the outreach workers needed to respond.
How to Support Independent Local News
STPL News covers the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston with independent reporting, community news and public interest coverage.
You can support the work in three ways: join the free daily e-news, make a one-off contribution, or become a financial member.
Your support helps keep local public-interest reporting available to the community.
