Mobile voluntary services policy

Mobile voluntary services operate across the City of Sydney area providing food, showers and other services to vulnerable communities. We recognise and value the contribution made by mobile voluntary services in supporting people experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and disadvantage in the city.

We’ll offer training for mobile voluntary services in our local area. If you're interested in attending, please contact the homelessness unit on 02 9265 9333.

Our policy and guidelines provide a framework for mobile voluntary services to operate across the city. They will apply to all new and existing services to ensure their operations are safe, meet the needs of service users and minimise impacts on local residents and businesses.

The purpose of the policy is to:

• describe the ways we work with and advise mobile voluntary services
• outline the law relevant to operating mobile voluntary services in public places
• detail service delivery principles that we expect mobile voluntary services to follow when delivering services in public places.

The guidelines provide mobile voluntary services with information about their legal obligations and best practice approaches to meet the needs of the people they aim to support. The guidelines cover:

• service delivery targeted to need
• specialist support and safety
• safe and nutritious food
• responsible use of public places.

We developed the policy and guidelines with NSW Government agencies and local homelessness service providers. They're also informed by our mobile voluntary services study.

In 2019 we commissioned research on mobile voluntary services in the local area to understand the needs and circumstances of services users, as well as the motivations of volunteers. These services included volunteer operated vans providing food or services such as showers and other hygiene facilities.

The research, conducted in April and May 2019, shows that mobile voluntary services serve an important role providing at least 4,400 meals a week to people in need. Almost half of those accessing these services are currently experiencing homelessness, while 46% of service users are living in social housing.