- Published on
By Denise Dillon
COLD nights will again bring a warm response, with the Bass Coast Winter Shelter set to reopen in June after a successful pilot season last year.
Chair David Rooks said the 2025 trial proved the impact of a community-run winter refuge.
“At the outset we said that if we made a difference in the life of one person, we would be happy. And we did,” he said.
“One of our guests moved into permanent housing. That alone makes the effort worthwhile."
COLD nights will again bring a warm response, with the Bass Coast Winter Shelter set to reopen in June after a successful pilot season last year.
Chair David Rooks said the 2025 trial proved the impact of a community-run winter refuge.
“At the outset we said that if we made a difference in the life of one person, we would be happy. And we did,” he said.
“One of our guests moved into permanent housing. That alone makes the effort worthwhile."
The shelter provided eight weeks of safe overnight accommodation last winter, offering meals, showers and, just as importantly, connection.
“We learned so much,” Mr Rooks said. “We’re now starting from a much stronger footing.”
“We’re a large and resourceful team, made up of mainly volunteers, and this year, we have the advantage of already having permits and processes in place. This gives us great confidence heading into 2026.”
“We learned so much,” Mr Rooks said. “We’re now starting from a much stronger footing.”
“We’re a large and resourceful team, made up of mainly volunteers, and this year, we have the advantage of already having permits and processes in place. This gives us great confidence heading into 2026.”
Information session
PICAL, 16 Warley Ave, Cowes,
4-5.30pm, Friday 27 March
The session will provide practical information on the winter shelter.
Volunteer training sessions will be held in late May.
For information about volunteering or donating, visit Bass Coast Winter Shelter, email wintershelterchair@gmail.com or call 0492 859 637.
PICAL, 16 Warley Ave, Cowes,
4-5.30pm, Friday 27 March
The session will provide practical information on the winter shelter.
Volunteer training sessions will be held in late May.
For information about volunteering or donating, visit Bass Coast Winter Shelter, email wintershelterchair@gmail.com or call 0492 859 637.
Now backed by stronger partnerships across the shire and a larger volunteer base, the shelter will again operate from the Uniting Church in Cowes across June, July and August.
It will open Wednesday to Friday from 6pm and provide crisis accommodation for up to 10 guests a night.
The shelter is working to strengthen links with local services, including Bayside Health, to better connect people experiencing homelessness with support.
All guests are screened by Salvation Army Homelessness Services – Gippsland.
With no government funding, the shelter relies on donations and volunteers.
“This is a community-led response and it only works because of the many generous locals who step forward,” Mr Rooks said.
“We were blown away by the support last year and we hope the community will again get behind the shelter through volunteering and financial donations.”
The project is supported by the Interchurch Council of Phillip Island, including the Uniting, Baptist, Anglican, Catholic, Surf and Equip churches.
It will open Wednesday to Friday from 6pm and provide crisis accommodation for up to 10 guests a night.
The shelter is working to strengthen links with local services, including Bayside Health, to better connect people experiencing homelessness with support.
All guests are screened by Salvation Army Homelessness Services – Gippsland.
With no government funding, the shelter relies on donations and volunteers.
“This is a community-led response and it only works because of the many generous locals who step forward,” Mr Rooks said.
“We were blown away by the support last year and we hope the community will again get behind the shelter through volunteering and financial donations.”
The project is supported by the Interchurch Council of Phillip Island, including the Uniting, Baptist, Anglican, Catholic, Surf and Equip churches.
Beds are set up at St John’s Uniting Church in Cowes
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I found out that some, or maybe all toilet blocks are locked at night. Yes, the council may be worried that they will be vandalised, but imagine if you are someone driving through he needs to use them. Not much fun. At least you can drive on, even if it means finding somewhere in the bush. If you are a homeless person, especially without a car, what are you supposed to do? We should have homes for everyone. The very least we can do is keep toilets open at night.