One key provider of emergency relief services has missed out on crucial funding from the Australian Government, resulting in the closure of their services in the east.
Uniting Vic.Tas missed out on the latest round of Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity (FWC) grants which were distributed on 1 October, and they won’t be able to apply again until 2030 as the program is a five-year contract.
Uniting’s Senior Manager for Homelessness in East Victoria Maidie Graham said disappointingly, Uniting Vic.Tas had a significant reduction in Federal Government funding for all their Victorian emergency relief services, including losing all funding for their emergency relief services in Melbourne’s East.
“Our emergency relief service in Ringwood had assisted nearly 1300 people last financial year with the benefit of the Federal Government funding we have now lost,” she said.
“So we’ve had to close our emergency relief program that had been open to the public at our Ringwood office and have stopped offering food vouchers from our Blackburn office,”
“We understand the Government has provided funding for emergency relief to other not-for-profit organisations in the region, however, we are disappointed that Uniting has missed out in this instance.”
Successful applicants for grants in the Outer East consisted of Community Information and Support Victoria, Dandenong Ranges Relief Service, EV Strengthening Communities, Glen Park Community Centre, LinC Yarra Valley, Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services and The Salvation Army.
“No one should be faced with a choice between putting food on the table or paying their bills. That’s why we’re increasing funding for these vital services by 25 per cent, to ensure all Australians can find a helping hand when they need one,” Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek said when the grants were announced in July.
“Fuel vouchers, food relief and financial counselling may sound simple but for many they’re life changing. No one plans to fall on hard times, yet it can happen to any one of us. In those difficult periods every person deserves respect, support and opportunity – that’s why the Albanese Labor Government is investing in frontline services,” Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence Ged Kearney said.
The cut for Uniting Vic.Tas comes despite over 300 grants being awarded, bringing the total FWC funding up from $120 million a year to $150 million a year. FWC services eligible for funding include emergency relief, food relief and material aid, financial counselling and capability services, financial wellbeing hubs, the No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS), NILS for Vehicles and the Saver Plus matched savings education program and the National Debt Helpline.
Ms Graham said despite this funding cut, they’ll try to continue to offer food relief to people engaged with their homelessness and family violence support services provided in Ringwood.
“Community support and donations are needed more than ever so we can deliver this vital service to help vulnerable people during a cost-of-living crisis,”
“Anyone wishing to help can contribute through our Food For Families campaign.”
United Vic.Tas also has an office in Croydon which does not offer emergency relief.
To donate to United’s Foods for Families campaign, visit foodforfamilies.org.au/help.
