In three months, Lakes Entrance’s new Drop-In Centre has welcomed people seeking support 171 times, reflecting new Gippsland homelessness data showing housing services are under increasing pressure.
New figures released by the Gippsland Homelessness Network during Homelessness Awareness Week show there are nearly 8000 priority access applications for social housing across Gippsland.
The Network found homelessness services are at capacity, with limited pathways into affordable housing. As people spend longer without stable housing or support, their needs become increasingly complex.
For many in East Gippsland, the community-led Drop-In Centre has become a place to find practical support and build helpful relationships.
Visitors come for a hot meal, a shower, laundry facilities, warm clothing and the chance to reconnect with others.
Since opening, the average age of people seeking support has been 50, highlighting that homelessness and housing insecurity is affecting people across generations, not just younger people.
Community support for the centre continues to grow, with volunteer hours adding up, donations arriving and community groups finding practical ways to contribute.
Among them is the Lakes Entrance Lions Club, which recently donated eight purpose-built backpack beds and 10 portable stoves to the centre.
Designed specifically for people sleeping rough, the backpack beds use waterproof and fire-retardant materials to provide shelter in all weather conditions, when traditional blankets and doonas are often no longer usable.
Lakes Entrance Lions Club president Brigid Baldwin said the club wanted to make a practical difference.
“We found out there was a need and as a club we decided to donate and support the Drop-In Centre,” Brigid said.
“Lions is a huge organisation but we want to focus on our immediate community here in Lakes – with a focus on early intervention. We are here to serve and prioritise the needs of the community.”
GLCH chief executive officer Anne-Maree Kaser said the first few months had reinforced both the scale of the need and the generosity of the East Gippsland community.
“We’ve always known there was a need, but seeing 171 visits in just three months reminds us how important this service is for those in the community ringing the front doorbell,” Anne-Maree said.
“Sometimes it’s a hot meal, a shower or somewhere to do the washing. Sometimes it’s simply having someone who knows your name and is happy to see you. Those small acts of care can make an enormous difference when life feels tough.”
The Drop-In Centre brings together a range of GLCH services, with visitors able to access social workers, health checks and homelessness support, alongside meals prepared through the organisation’s Social Support kitchen. The centre in Jemmeson Street is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am to 3pm.
Anne-Maree said the centre had been made possible because the community had embraced it from the beginning.
“We’ve been humbled by the generosity of community groups and volunteers who have stepped forward to help,” Anne-Maree said.
“Every meal served, every backpack bed donated and every dollar contributed reminds people that they haven’t been forgotten.
“We know there are more people who will need support in the months ahead. With the community behind us, we can continue to offer a place where people are treated with dignity and kindness.”
Community members wishing to donate can do so via the GLCH donations webpage or by calling GLCH and speaking with Marnie Graham.
