A report released yesterday by philanthropic organisation Melbourne Community Foundation, based on research by University of Melbourne's McCaughey Centre, warns Melbourne's outer growth suburbs could become pockets of disadvantage without investment in key community development programs.

Melbourne Community Foundation chief executive Sarah Davies said the report - MacroMelbourne, Social and Economic Disadvantage in Melbourne: Challenges and Priorities for Philanthropic Investment - revealed "seven deadly signs" that showed Melbourne's growth areas, including Wyndham, risk becoming home to a large population of disadvantaged, disillusioned and disaffected residents in the next 20 years. ABS census data showed Wyndham was the fastest-growing municipality in Victoria in 2007-08, increasing by 8900 people or 7.2per cent.

The signs are:

* Rapid population growth.

* Job losses as a result of the global financial crisis.

* Increases in the number of people with complex needs, such as aged and disabled residents.

* Lack of affordable housing.

* Lack of affordable transport and access to the internet.

* Ongoing challenges facing migrant, refugee and indigenous communities.

* Health and wellbeing affected by climate change; food, water, energy and transport costs are likely to rise.

The WynCabs Laverton North Shuttle Service Project hopes help employers will retain workers who lacked transport, private or public, to get to work.

While the loan program for car repair was based on information from support services that showed many low-income families had trouble maintaining their vehicles, they were dependant on their cars to get to work and school.

No-interest loans of around $500 would be available to eligible residents.

Both projects require about $93,500 to get off the ground.

Ms Davies said MCF's role was to identify projects, through research, that could best assist community development and present those projects to philanthropic groups for investment.

"This is not about a lot of money, it's about intelligence, research, evidence-based and proper targeting of the money into the opportunities that will have the most positive impact."

She said the best time to tackle the issues was now, before areas like Wyndham were too large and social problems were entrenched.