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South Island welfare centres take the strain


Wellington, Monday 30 April 2012.

South Island welfare centres take the strain.

The Salvation Army launches its annual Red Shield Appeal today expecting an increase in demand throughout the South Island for its already stretched welfare services.

Excluding specific earthquake recovery work, The Salvation Army’s Southern Division has seen a 108 per cent increase in food parcel distribution since the start of the recession in early 2008. Social workers have seen their case loads jump by more than 270 per cent in the same period.

Salvation Army head of social services for the South Island Major Mike Allwright says his welfare centres are running at full steam to maintain the current level of services. He expects no let-up for the next two years, at least, because of the sluggish economy and the growing housing crisis in the Christchurch region and continuing pressure on families affected by the earthquakes.

“Prior to the earthquakes, more and more families were coming to us with increasingly complex problems relating to job losses, reduced work hours and the resulting debt,” says Major Allwright. “Following the earthquakes, demand has soared, including a growing number of middle income-earners affected by the quakes.”

While the Canterbury quakes have stretched local Salvation Army services to their limits, affected residents fleeing to other South Island towns – many leaving with only what they could fit in their cars – added unprecedented levels of demand on many centres.

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For instance, Invercargill Community Ministries welfare centre distributed less than 60 food parcels during the first quarter of 2011. Demand tripled within three months and then settled down to 170 in the first quarter of this year – still nearly 200 per cent higher than 2011. Towns and cities like Timaru, Nelson, Blenheim, Ashburton and Alexandra have seen significant increases in demand for services, driven by the recession and the earthquakes.

Support from the New Zealand public and companies was critical in responding to the human cost of the earthquakes, Major Allwright says. But funding challenges remain, including the closing of three Christchurch Family Stores in Christchurch due to quake damage, the profits of which were used to fund welfare services.

“Our donors are a crucial part of our team,” he says. “Without their support, our services could offer little more than token relief to those living in desperate circumstances.”

All proceeds from the Red Shield Appeal go to the operation of The Salvation Army’s Community Ministries welfare centres.

Issued on the Authority of Commissioner Donald Bell (Territorial Commander)
The Salvation Army, New Zealand Fiji & Tonga Territory
ends

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