Deadline looms for Bayside welfare centre amid bitter funding dispute

A busy bayside welfare centre, which served up 15,480 free meals last year, has been given a September 30 deadline to find funding or close for good after a rival charity received state funds.

Families and those struggling make ends meet sit down to a meal at the Wynnum Community Place. Picture: Supplied.

A busy bayside welfare centre, which served up 15,480 free community meals last year, has been given a September 30 deadline to find funding or close for good.

Wynnum Community Place, which is operated by United Community Services Inc, has begged Premier Steven Miles to guarantee annual funding of at least $180,000 to stay open.

But last month, Communities Minister Leeanne Enoch was unable to guarantee funding for the service, which “successfully” ran a two-year pilot program from April 2020 to March 2022, after winning an initial tender application for a trial period.

Following a review of the trial, the state government determined there was continued need for a neighbourhood centre in Wynnum and a broader tender process was launched.

Y-Care, now operating as YMCA Wynnum Community Hub out of a building in Florence St, Wynnum, secured the contract to provide the services from April 2022 to September 2023.

That contract was later extended to September 2028.

Opposition Community Support spokesman John-Paul Langbroek told Estimates the funding for Wynnum Community Place was axed in March 2022 despite the centre continuing to provide “vital” services worth more than $1 million.

The Wynnum Community Place in Berrima St, Wynnum, failed to get state funding after a two-year pilot program. Picture: Contributed

This month, the Wynnum Community Place board, made up of volunteers, recommended the closure of the Berrima St venture, saying providing the range of services after September 30 would be unsustainable.

Under existing funding, United Community Services receives approximately $270,000 annually for the Redland Community Centre in Capalaba, plus $40,000 in emergency relief funding.

The YMCA Community Hub is funded with nearly $295,000 for operational expenses and about $9000 for emergency relief at the Wynnum facility.

United Community Services chief executive Allison Wicks said the minister’s response was disappointing and did not reflect local sentiment.

Ms Wicks said there was a 126 per cent increase in demand for the Wynnum Community Place service since December 2022 with middle-class families struggling with the rising costs of living making up more than 60 per cent of people seeking help.

Wynnum Community Place CEO Allison Wicks. Picture: Contributed

“We were invited to apply for a tender back in December 2019 and we ran a really successful pilot and received around $116,000 annually,” Ms Wicks said.

“However, in March 2022, that funding was taken away from Wynnum Community Place and redirected to an outside organisation – and now funding for that type of service has actually been increased to $230,000 a year.

“No organisation in Wynnum delivers what Wynnum Community Place does for the community.

“We have tried to continue our work through community donations and our own reserves, but we can no longer sustain operations.”

More than half of the people who use the centre’s services are families struggling with rising costs. Picture: Contributed

Ms Wicks said the Wynnum Community Place was the only organisation in Wynnum which had space to cook hundreds of meals and offer shower and toilet facilities.

She said for the service to continue, it would require some form of rental subsidy.

This month, the service fed about 500 people with free community dinners which are on offer to those struggling to make ends meet including families, the elderly, those who are isolated and homeless people.

The much-loved charity distributed 25,080kg of fresh fruit and vegetables, provided 3600 coffee sessions and 432 shower sessions in the past year, which Ms Wicks said will not be replicated if the service closes abruptly next month.

Ms Wicks appealed the state government decision to reject the application for further funding with the Queensland Ombudsman questioning the adequacy of the winning bid’s facilities.

She argued that the YMCA’s premises lacked essential amenities such as shower facilities, a proper kitchen, and adequate space for meal services, which she believed were crucial for effective service delivery.

An audit of the tender process was conducted in response to the appeal, and the decision to award the contract to YMCA was upheld.

A state government spokesman said Y-Care South East Queensland Inc was the successful offerer and currently operates the neighbourhood centre in Wynnum.

“Y-Care delivers programs and events that meet needs across all ages from mothers to babies and senior community members,” the spokesman said.

“The centre delivers a range of services including emergency relief and they work with key agencies to ensure clients can readily access critical supports including health, housing and commonwealth services such as Centrelink.

“The department’s funding model includes expectations that organisations work together in partnership and to collaborate to respond to these diverse community needs.”

A spokesman for YMCA Wynnum Community Hub said the area was serviced by multiple organisations but it was important not to duplicate work done by other organisations.

“We know that multiple organisations are providing food hampers, meals and access to showers and laundry facilities.

“YMCA Wynnum Community Hub provides a range of community supports to the Wynnum community including service navigation for community members with complex needs including mental health, substance abuse, experiencing or at risk of homelessness and domestic and family violence.

“We also provide Emergency Relief for prescription medication, bill payments, pet food and cleaning and sanitary items and clothing, including jackets and sleeping bags.

“We also provide space for external services such as free counselling and Justice of the Peace appointments.

“Should a gap in service delivery become apparent, YMCA Wynnum Community Hub would build on existing local relationships to work collaboratively with service providers.”