Foodbanks and support services get $58m boost
As Covid-19 numbers drop, the Government is widening its support to poorer households isolating at home.
A $58 million boost announced yesterday for Care in the Community will go towards foodbanks, 500 workers from the Community Connection Service, and to help disabled communities.
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni said this widening of support was possible as overall demand for help with Covid-19 isolation was dropping.
‘‘We’ve worked hard to slow the spread of Omicron, and our Government’s response is showing to have paid dividends with a drop in demand for support.
‘‘Now with higher rates of vaccination coverage, we’re now able to pivot our response and support a broader range of circumstances for people who’ve been significantly impacted by Covid-19 requirements.
‘‘As part of our transition beyond the Omicron peak, we’re providing confidence and certainty to social service organisations and foodbanks who have worked tirelessly to support their local communities, whānau and people.’’
The Ministry of Social Development received 25,000 weekly requests for support during the height of the Omicron outbreak in mid-March, Sepuloni said, but the number had since dropped to 3400. Most were for food, medicines, emergency housing or financial support. The funding consists of $30.6m for 500 Community Connectors, $18.5m for food banks, $5m for support for disabled people, $2m for helping other community providers, and $2m for personal protective equipment for at-risk
communities and providers.
Support would remain in place until the legal requirement to selfisolate was lifted, but the announced funding would last until June 2023.
‘‘Foodbanks have worked effectively alongside Government in our response to Covid-19. That’s why we’re continuing to provide them with some financial relief as we look to return to greater normality, but also as we look to broaden our efforts to strengthen food security in Aotearoa New Zealand,’’ said Sepuloni.
The boost would enable Community Connectors to help people with ‘‘broader’’ Covid-related issues such as education and employment support, she added. The Ministry of Social Development would also work with the disabled community to decide how to use the ring-fenced $5 million.
Kura Moeahu, the chairperson of Te Rūnanganui o Te ti Awa, said there were also grassroots Community Connectors to support the homeless community.
The announcement came after an urgent Human Rights Commission inquiry found the Government’s Omicron response put disabled people at risk.
Sepuloni said the Government’s approach had saved lives and protected the disabled community, but admitted there were things it could have done better.
‘‘The funds that we’ve put in place at different points have certainly got to disabled people, but this is a ring-fenced fund and I think that it’s very much needed.’’
Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero, who launched the urgent inquiry in March, said she welcomed the announcement.
‘‘One of the things that was really clear in the inquiry I undertook was that disabled people and their whānau wanted a far greater opportunity to be involved, particularly in central planning,’’ she said. ‘‘I look forward to working with the community to provide influence on what that might be used for.’’