Just hours after finding out about his brother's death back home in New Zealand, Darryl plays Amazing Grace on a half-broken keyboard at the back of a Coolangatta church hall.

He's one of about 40 people who've come for a free dinner, provided by charity Agape Outreach.

Key points: Agape feeds homeless people on the Gold Coast and coordinates services with other charities, including Orange Sky Laundry

Agape feeds homeless people on the Gold Coast and coordinates services with other charities, including Orange Sky Laundry Gold Coast City Council has restricted Agape's activities in Coolangatta's Goodwin Park, due to anti-social behaviour

Gold Coast City Council has restricted Agape's activities in Coolangatta's Goodwin Park, due to anti-social behaviour Agape has protested against the move but council says it still wants to work with the charity

"I cannot go home, I don't have a job, I don't qualify for Centrelink, so I'm a bit stranded," Darryl said.

"[But] the people I've got here, they are family."

The hall isn't the usual place Darryl comes to for these dinners, after the City of Gold Coast restricted Agape's services in a nearby park last month.

The result has been a growing feud between the charity and the council.

Agape protests, searches for solution

With placards made from cardboard boxes, a handful of Agape's volunteers and clients protested against the council's decision on Friday.

Supporters of Agape Outreach protested against the Gold Coast council's decision to not allow services, such as food, clothing and laundry in public parks. ( ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale )

"We've had to, because of changes in permits, change venues in Coolangatta a few times from park to park, and that's OK, we understand that," Agape founding director Theresa Mitchell said.

But Ms Mitchell said this was the first time in 11 years that the City of Gold Coast had barred homeless services such as laundry, free clothing, and haircuts in a public park.

"Council declared all these domestic services were no longer allowed in a park, so they have to happen in a house and not in a council park."

She continued: "We're talking about people in domestic violence situations, or sick with terminal illnesses, or families going without, and council is saying 'Sorry, you can't do that on public land'."

Agape now hires the church hall twice a week, but Ms Mitchell said attendance had dropped from about 80 people a night to 50, with haircuts, vet visits, and laundry no longer regularly offered.

Council stands firm, says public safety is key

Gold Coast councillor Gail O'Neill, whose division takes in Coolangatta, said safety concerns in Goodwin Park had been raised within the community.

Councillor Gail O'Neill says she's offered divisional donations to Agape in the past. ( Facebook: Gail O'Neill )

"It's actually the anti-social behaviour, and sometimes violent behaviour, that's going on in that park," Cr O'Neill said.

"I had 70-odd residents at a public meeting a couple of months ago — very fearful, very frustrated, very angry — that council and the police don't seem to be able to do anything to help the situation.

"We're happy to support [Agape] but in another venue, because we do have a problem in that park."

Cr O'Neill said the council "did not come down hard on this" and had been eager to help Agape find long-term alternative solutions, including through financial assistance.

But Ms Mitchell said the council's response had been disproportionate.

"We serve 80 people a night. There were three people that were causing trouble," Ms Mitchell said.

"I don't believe they should be able to say that you can't hand someone clothing or you can't give them food when they're in need and they're hungry."

11,000 loads of laundry, 16,000 hours of 'genuine conversation'

Orange Sky, whose founders were recognised as Young Australians of the Year in 2016, previously worked with Agape in Goodwin Park.

Orange Sky Laundry has been operating on the Gold Coast since 2018. ( ABC: Justin Huntsdale )

A spokesperson said Orange Sky had provided more than 11,000 loads of free laundry and 16,000 hours of "genuine and non-judgmental conversation" on the Gold Coast since 2018.

"We are aware of a recent council decision to change the way services for people doing it tough are offered in local parks," they said.

"We are currently working with a local service provider [Agape] on an alternative location so that we can continue to support our friends in the area."

Orange Sky still operates at six other Gold Coast locations, further north of Coolangatta.

Homelessness 'starts with no help'

Darryl said he would still seek Agape's services, as long as it remained in the Coolangatta area, to eat and play keyboard.

"Before my mother died she played piano," he said.

"I sat with her watching her hands and I mimicked — I put my little hands on her hands — and that's how I learnt."

While he acknowledged the difficulties homelessness presented communities like Coolangatta, Darryl said more help was needed.

"How I became homeless? Well, it starts with no help," he said.

"It just feels sad, like a man not being a man because I can't provide."