The recruitment of the Community food Hub Coordinator Ronella Gomez in 2023 marked a distinct change in the project. The position worked very hands-on with project partners (particularly Merri food hub) to design, run, adjust projects in response to on-ground issues, and report on results.

The coordinator built trusted relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, undertaking a comprehensive food security needs assessment. This meant the 2024 projects were forged on strong commitment and engagement.

Merri Food Hub's weekly, medium-density fresh food market was the central element of the structured projects implemented in 2024. Targeted subsidies were applied at different operations in the model:

1. Market operational subsidy:
   • Paid staff to run weekly Glenroy and Fawkner markets, co-located with library and family services
   • Investment in improving market systems and processes
2. Food subsidies:
   • Voucher program distributed through food relief service providers and redeemable at the Glenroy and Fawkner markets. The program provided dignity of choice and a tailored response to individual needs based their frequency and severity of food insecurity.
   • Funded supply of healthy, culturally appropriate food to Merri Food Hub, CIS Merri-bek, Uniting Asylum Seeker Welcome Centre.
3. Ethical supply subsidy:
   
   • Testing local procurement, aggregation and logistics processes
   • Working with the Community Grocer to source from wholesalers that meet the demand for affordable, culturally appropriate produce.

This approach demonstrated that better food access, health, economic and sustainability outcomes can be achieved through targeted well designed financial mechanisms.