The Outpost finds new home

GEELONG-based homelessness service The Outpost has found a new home in central Geelong, after a more than two-year search.

While there is still work to be done to prepare the new site, the organisation is hoping to open its doors to the community on December 16.

Board chair Amy Flint said the organisation was incredibly excited for the future.

“The opportunities are endless here at 42 Little Ryrie Street.

“Moving to this location provides dignity to those that we serve and an opportunity for a little bit more normality in each day.”

The new premise has a larger capacity than the organisation’s former site on Brougham Street, with space upstairs to host food therapy and training classes, conduct first aid and provide guests with a space where they can rest and connect with others out of the elements.

The new site also has a commercial kitchen, a first for The Outpost that Ms Flint said will make a big difference to its operation.

The Outpost is the region’s only nightly non-referral homelessness service providing warm meals and clothing to those in need, and for more than 20 years has operated out of the City of Greater Geelong-owned Busport building.

There, the charity operated under a peppercorn lease with a small, nominal payment arrangement.

But in early 2022, motivated by its own financial pressures, the city announced its intention to sell the property, forcing The Outpost to find a new home.

Later that same year, in the lead up to the state election, then-Premier Daniel pledged to put “the full resources of the government” towards assisting the service to secure a new home, with another peppercorn lease.

More than two years on, such a home has not eventuated, and the organisation has had to instead enter into a commercial lease.

“We have previously operated on $57,000 a year and our commercial lease is $42,000 a year, so almost our entire operating costs,” Ms Flint said.

In this year’s state budget, The Outpost was allocated an extra $52,000 in funding to support its operations, but Ms Flint said without a peppercorn lease, those funds were being used to maintain the organisation’s outgoings.

A government spokesperson said the state would continue to work with The Outpost to find a suitable location.

“Homes Victoria has conducted extensive consultation with The Outpost to understand its key site requirements and has worked with the Greater Geelong city council to explore government land in the Geelong central business district and surrounding areas.”