Local leaders back homelessness response amid funding uncertainty
Published on 08 September 2026
Rough sleeping in Frankston City has reached its highest recorded level since 2021, prompting local leaders, service providers and community organisations to call for stronger support to ensure nobody is left behind.
Representatives from government, homelessness, health, legal, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and community services came together at Frankston Civic Centre for a Frankston Zero Roundtable focused on rising homelessness, growing service demand and the shortage of suitable housing.
At the end of August 2026, 106 people were known to specialist homelessness services across the municipality, including 67 people sleeping rough, 15 in respite accommodation, eight in temporary accommodation and 16 in other forms of housing. Frankston now has the third-highest known number of people sleeping rough in Victoria.
The Roundtable highlighted the urgent need to strengthen local responses to homelessness while building on the success of Frankston Zero, an evidence-based partnership that has already supported 80 people into secure housing since 2021.
Frankston City Mayor Councillor Sue Baker, said the Roundtable theme, Nobody Left Behind, reflected a shared commitment to make sure people experiencing rough sleeping were not forgotten.
"The response already exists. The opportunity is to strengthen what works," Cr Baker said.
"Frankston Zero has built the local partnerships, knowledge and systems needed to respond. We now need the capacity to meet growing demand."
The Victorian Government recently announced a new plan to reduce rough sleeping across the state. While the direction is welcome, no funding has yet been confirmed for Frankston City beyond 30 June 2027, when Frankston Zero's current funding arrangement ends.
Roundtable participants called for clear information about how the new measures will operate locally, continued support for Frankston Zero's coordination role, increased outreach capacity, and more social and supported housing.
Chair of the Frankston Zero Executive Committee, Jackie Galloway OAM, said local services were working together effectively but were under increasing pressure.
"Frankston Zero keeps people visible to the service system and helps partners provide the right support at the right time," Ms Galloway said.
"There are not enough suitable homes, and people can wait a long time. During that wait, outreach, persistence and coordinated support are critical."
Frankston Zero brings together 22 partner agencies committed to ending rough sleeping in Frankston City. The partnership identifies people sleeping rough, coordinates support and connects individuals with pathways into safe and stable housing.
With each person's consent, partner organisations share the information needed to work as one coordinated team. This approach helps ensure people remain connected to support services as their circumstances change and reduces the risk of individuals falling through gaps in the system.
Roundtable participants noted that the known figures are likely to understate the true scale of homelessness in the municipality. Some people sleep in cars, stay temporarily with friends or family, move between short-term accommodation options, or do not engage with support services at all.
They also highlighted that the journey out of homelessness is rarely straightforward. People often move between rough sleeping, crisis accommodation and temporary housing while waiting for a suitable long-term home. Throughout that process, coordinated support, sustained outreach and strong local partnerships are critical.
Cr Baker said addressing homelessness required both immediate support and long-term solutions.
"Nobody Left Behind means strengthening proven local services while housing options remain limited," she said.
"By working together and investing in what we know works, we can help ensure more people have access to the support and housing they need to rebuild their lives."