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The delivery of two Foodbanks has been further delayed, as support services in regional Victoria report unprecedented demand.
Key points:
Ballarat and Morwell are waiting for their Foodbanks to be completed
The facilities were promised by Victorian Labor in 2018
Food relief and community support services say demand for help is on the rise
More than four years ago, Ballarat and the town of Morwell, in Gippsland, were each promised new Foodbank facilities under a $10 million, 2018 pre-election pledge from Victorian Labor.
Foodbank describes the facilities as "centralised regional warehouses" that "will increase the supply of fresh, frozen foods and chilled foods to those experiencing food insecurity in the Gippsland and Grampians regions".
That wait has now stretched out to July this year for Ballarat, and December 2023 for Morwell.
ABC News understands supply and worker shortages within the construction industry have affected the timing of completion of the hubs.
Of the Ballarat site, Foodbank Victoria chief communications officer Matt Tilley said final preparations were underway.
"Walls are going up, the roof is going on soon. We’re full-throttle planning for the opening of this amazing facility," he said.
Mr Tilley would not comment on the status of the Morwell facility.
In a statement, a Department of Families, Fairness and Housing spokesperson said "it continues to support Foodbank Victoria to get these important facilities up and running as soon as possible".
Crippling cost of living
Craig Schepis, founder of Ballarat's Soup Bus, told ABC Ballarat Breakfast the current cost of living was "really killing people".
"We're into our 15th year of operation, and it's the worst it has ever been in regards to numbers we're trying to assist," he said.
The Soup Bus operates an after-dark meal service from Sunday to Thursday, for around an hour on each of the five nights.
"We're servicing around 65 people in that time that are in absolute emergency relief need," he said.
"The numbers of rough sleepers have increased dramatically."
While donations of goods from the community are flowing fast, Mr Schepis said all items — especially non-perishables such as long-life milk — are leaving its storage area as soon as they come in.
"We've never had this problem before," he said.
Homeless support 'at capacity'
A spokesperson for Uniting Vic.Tas, which offers food relief among its services, said the organisation was seeing growing demand in Ballarat and across regional Victoria.
Senior manager for homelessness Adam Liversage said "cost of living has really started to make an impact".
"We can't keep up with the increases in demand," he said.
"All our team is at capacity. We've got a rough sleeper count of 70-75 just in the Ballarat region at the moment.
"In the Wimmera we had 177 people present as rough sleepers in the past 12 months."
He said that it was vital for the federal government to renew Equal Remuneration Order (ERO), which was created to increase pay rates for the community sector workforce.
This funding is due to expire on June 30.
"If we were to lose our ERO funding, Uniting Vic.Tas stands to lose around $1.2 million for the financial year 2023-24," Mr Liversage said.
"We need that commitment to be able to provide our services and meet the demand of our community."
The federal government has been approached for a response.