Splitting the cafe bill for city’s poorest

HEALTH authorities will split the bill on café meals for Greater Dandenong’s poorest residents.
The Café Meals program is undergoing a four-month trial period with 30 participants to encourage poorer residents to eat healthier.
Participants will pay just $4 for any meal up to the value of $12 with VicHealth and the State Government’s Home and Community Care contributions covering the rest.
The program targets residents living in rooming and boarding houses in and around the Dandenong CBD, and people with physical disability or mental illness. Each participant is assessed as to their suitability for program placement using Meals on Wheels criteria.
Selected residents will take part in the program and be given a personal membership card to receive one meal per day, consisting of food and a non-alcoholic drink. The Café Meals program is designed to be a flexible alternative to Council’s Meals on Wheels initiative.
Youhorn Chea, said the subsidised meal scheme provided an avenue to nutritious and affordable meals in local cafés and restaurants.
“We hope to channel clients into this program who traditionally do not make use of meals services,” he said.
“The Café Meals program targets people who do not eat well for a variety of reasons.
“Council hopes to not only improve access to healthy food, but to promote its importance in maintaining a healthy mind and body.
“This all takes place in an environment that is conducive to social interaction.”
Participating cafés include: Cheesy’s – Shop 310, Dandenong Plaza; The Grain Café – Plaza Food Court, Dandenong Plaza; Asian Eatery – Plaza Food Court, Dandenong Plaza; Japanese Sushi Bar – Plaza Food Court, Dandenong Plaza; La Porchetta – Plaza Food Court, Dandenong Plaza; Lakshmi Vilas – 31 Pultney St, Dandenong; Afghan Bakery – 254 Thomas St, Dandenong.