A new purpose-built warehouse in Ravenhall will support the expansion of services offered by the Western Emergency Relief Network (WERN).
WERN works to support people experiencing homelessness, mental health conditions, family violence, fire or flood situations, or those who are refugees, by supplying them with quality second-hand furniture, electronics, and whitegoods.
City of Melton Mayor Goran Kesic said WERN was an incredibly important not-for-profit organisation that provided essential emergency services to our communities.
"Melton City Council was pleased to be able to deliver a new, larger, warehouse facility for WERN to operate from," Cr Kesic said.
"These services are in even greater demand since the impacts of the pandemic and the increased cost of living has hit every household over the last few years.
"WERN not only supports our residents across the City of Melton, but its vital services now reach across eight other local government areas here in the west."
Melton City Council has offered WERN a peppercorn lease for 20 years.
"We're confident that this low-cost lease agreement will allow WERN to expand its reach and help even more people in need. Emergency relief is absolutely critical, and I'm very pleased that we can play our part to support a key organisation in its important work," Cr Kesic said.
Western Emergency Relief Network chair, Tony Ebejer, said: "WERN is extremely pleased to partner with the City of Melton to deliver material aid to those in crisis within our community."
"WERN has been delivering emergency relief in the form of household goods across the west of Melbourne for the past seven years and to date has assisted over 7000 Australians with over 61,000 re-gifted items," Mr Ebejer said.
"WERN now has an exceptional opportunity to raise our support level for clients thanks to the City of Melton and their support to this amazing program."
The Western Emergency Relief Network provides support for nine local government areas including Melton, Brimbank, Wyndham, Maribyrnong, Moorabool, Hobsons Bay, Moonee Valley, Moreland and Hume.
