Foodbank helps twice as many
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More than double the number of people sought help from the local foodbank during the first half of this year compared to 2019 and the service is expecting demand to increase as the economic effects of Covid-19 set in.
Job losses, wage reductions, and not being able to access other services during lockdown meant demand for food parcels from the Salvation Army Rotorua foodbank “escalated considerably”.
The Salvation Army Rotorua foodbank helped 1548 clients from January to May, compared to 737 the same time last year.
Community ministries director Lieutenant Kylie Overbye said the foodbank moved from operating three days a week to six during alert levels 3 and 4 to cater for demand. Up to 30 food parcels were given out each day.
“People receiving support have been largely families affected by Covid either through not being able to access other services, wage reduction, job loss, or beneficiaries who were experiencing greater consumption of consumables due to being in lockdown,” she said.
“And we’ve also brought some food support to community groups working with the homeless community.”
But since level 2 Overbye said demand had dropped as families resumed a semi-normal routine with greater access to services such as schools, work and shops.
“But I wouldn’t assume it will stay this way, as we are yet to experience the longer-term effects from Covid-19 and we anticipate we will likely see an increase in demand as the economic effects on the country set in.”
She said community organisations such as the foodbank were a vital connection for the long-term sustainability of communities.
“While community organisations provide essential services, they also play a key role in helping community folk come together and support each other.
“We are about nurturing people, and bringing hope to their lives.”
Meanwhile, Rotorua Budget Advisory Services manager Pakanui Tuhura said for the past five years client debt levels were an average of $19 million.
But he expected things to get worse in the coming months, especially when the Government’s temporary Covid-19 measures for mortgages end.
“I think this will have a downriver effect on rents as well, especially if there is a strong reentry of developers into the housing market.
“The increase in debt will probably be driven by new home buyers with new mortgages and old mortgage repayments by the newly unemployed Covid-19 impact on businesses.”
Tuhura said three or four people had come into the office and there had been 20 to 30 phone inquiries since the service opened its doors again a week and a half ago.
“We believe there are a number of reasons for this including people ‘toughing it out’ until they feel they need to see us,” he said.
“We haven’t seen the expected landslide yet but I guess it is just a matter of time.”
He said the people who had visited so far were looking for help with Kiwisaver hardship refunds and issues they had before but exacerbated by the lockdown.
“Strangely most seem pretty upbeat as the lockdown prevented a lot of non-essential spending. However, that will restart now that we are out of lockdown.”