Foothills Community Care Launches $400,000 Hub to Address Eastern Melbourne Food Crisis

UPWEY, VICTORIA – A local charity has found the solution to Eastern Melbourne's worst food crisis. Foothills Community Care needs $400,000 to transform a site next to Upwey Station into a community hub. The new facility aims to alleviate hunger for thousands of local people who are currently facing exclusion.

For twenty-three years, Foothills Community Care has provided services to families across Knox and the Yarra Ranges. The organisation intends to transform a 370-square-metre site into a centre for community activities. Over the course of twelve years, the facility will be responsible for the production of one million meals. It will include a commercial kitchen, a dining area that can accommodate 100 people, an op shop, and integrated support services. The hub will be open for business six days out of every week, which will bring about a change in the way our community addresses poverty.

The Crisis is Deepening Daily

The crisis is deepening daily. Across Knox and the Yarra Ranges, 33,877 people now live below the poverty line. In Knox, this represents 11.5 per cent of the population (17,395 people), whilst in the Yarra Ranges it is 11.2 per cent (16,482 people). Current services meet only 60 per cent of demand. In Knox alone, the shortage means 167,138 kilogrammes of food are needed each year. Nearly half of those seeking help this year—47 per cent—have never needed food relief before.

The Yarra Ranges faces particular challenges, with 37 per cent of households experiencing food insecurity across a vast 2,500 square kilometre service area. Food parcel distribution has increased fivefold since 2022, whilst cooked meal requirements have doubled in the same period.

Strategic Location and Accessibility

The hub serves a catchment area of 320,341 residents across Knox and Yarra Ranges councils. The location provides direct train access via Upwey Station. Public transport connectivity ensures vulnerable residents can access services easily. The site addresses needs across 2,500 square kilometres.

According to the organisation, every dollar invested creates $6.11 in social value. The hub will prevent 150 families from reaching crisis point each year. These outcomes are projected to save millions in emergency service costs whilst transforming lives.

Vulnerable Populations Most Affected

The crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. Single-parent households experience a 69 per cent food insecurity rate. Private renters in the Yarra Ranges face a 21.2 per cent poverty rate, well above the state average. In Knox, the figure is 13.7 per cent for private renters.

Children are particularly impacted, with 15.4 per cent of Knox children and 15.2 per cent of Yarra Ranges children living in poverty. Working families who never expected to need help now choose between rent and food.

Community and Political Support

The facility will mobilise significant community support. Volunteers will contribute 222,000 hours over twelve years. This equals 107 full-time positions worth $6.7 million. The opportunity shop and café will generate funds that will go back to frontline services.

Political support is unanimous. The initiative is endorsed by representatives from all political parties at the state and federal levels. Furthermore, the local councils fully support the project. The site has been secured. The plans have been established. The sole obstacle to immediate commencement is funding.

Infrastructure for Scale and Sustainability

Current operations produce 200 cooked meals and 200 food parcels daily. The Upwey Hub will increase this to 500 meals and 500 parcels daily. The facility enables the consolidation of scattered operations. Multiple programmes will share space efficiently.

The site design follows a six-day service model Tuesday to Sunday. Operating hours will meet community needs. The commercial kitchen meets all food safety regulations. Storage capacity will allow bulk purchasing, reducing costs whilst ensuring quality.

Social Return on Investment Analysis

The business case uses AIHW and AIFS standards. Every dollar creates $6.11 in social value. This represents a 511 per cent return on investment. The calculation accounts for preventable hospitalisations, emergency services savings, and long-term family stability.

Crisis intervention generates immediate savings. A single night's emergency accommodation costs $250. One hospital presentation averages $600. The hub prevents both through early intervention. These savings compound over time.

The Opportunity Shop and Café Model

The op shop will fund operations. Donated goods create revenue streams. This ensures sustainable operations beyond initial funding. The café provides both meals and community connection.

The model creates employment pathways. People experiencing disadvantage gain work experience. Volunteers develop skills. Social enterprise principles ensure maximum community benefit.

The $400,000 Funding Model

Accelerating Crisis Demands Urgent Response

Food parcel demand has increased fivefold since 2020. Cooked meal requirements have doubled. Private renters face 21.2 per cent poverty rates in the Yarra Ranges. These trends will worsen without intervention.

Foothills Community Care rarely seeks public support. The organisation has operated quietly for two decades. This crisis demands a different response. The Upwey Hub represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to solve rather than manage poverty.

Statewide Significance

The project has statewide significance. Government officials recognise the hub as a potential model for Victoria. The integrated service approach could transform how communities address food security. Eastern Melbourne will lead the nation in coordinated poverty response.