Only a few months ago, James* came to Anglicare facing eviction. He’d lost his job, was way behind in rent and he was overwhelmed.

The financial assistance team sprang into action: a caseworker helped fast-track his Centrelink benefits, provide some money for rent arrears and food, help James access employment support, apply for social housing and create a plan to gradually pay back more of his debt.

A few weeks later, James secured a new job – but when his training clashed with a rental tribunal, the continuing support from Anglicare’s caseworker connected him to a tenancy advice service, which had someone represent him at the hearing. James started successfully in his new job and has been able to stay in his home.

Sadly, the Federal Government has recently made significant changes to its grants program, reducing Anglicare’s ability to support people like James. The reduction in funding is set to affect nearly 15,000 families.

The organisation’s CEO, Simon Miller, says that while donors and existing resources provide much of the funds for this work, as of October 1 it lost 50 per cent of its funding for financial counselling and casework support, and “the lion’s share of what our caseworkers had to give to people when they came in, in need”.

“A few years ago, it was largely people out of work who were accessing our services for food, but it’s now increasingly people who are in work,” he adds. “Even if you’re in a job you’re struggling to put food on the table.”

Mr Miller did note that the funding cuts would not affect services such as mobile community pantries, which are now linked to more than 50 parishes in the Sydney Diocese.

Anglicare Sydney’s head of food and financial assistance, Paul Fitzpatrick, says people on the team are concerned about the impact cuts will have.

“There are many people who access our services who we are worried may not get the support they need,” he says. “We’ve started explaining some of the changes to people, saying, ‘We can help you a bit now, but we can’t do everything we used to’... and providing information about other organisations where we can.

“Unfortunately, many other organisations are also struggling – either they have also lost funding, or they have it but can’t meet the volume of demand or address the full range of needs people are experiencing. Of course, we hope that other services will build up their capacity over time, but we are concerned there will still be gaps that can’t fully be filled.” 

One of the “gaps” Mr Fitzpatrick is particularly concerned about is emergency removal assistance.

“A lot of people who access our services have been impacted by family and domestic violence and are in, or have been in, unsafe situations... we have been one of the few providers in the Sydney Diocese with the resources, ability and skills to help when someone needs to escape an unsafe situation and they need to move immediately.

“Every couple of weeks, somewhere in the Diocese, we help someone in a situation like that. This is a standout concern for me – I’m genuinely very worried about it. We are still searching for organisations with funding that can help fill this gap.”

Keep up the care

Mr Miller says people at Anglicare recognised the groups that did receive greater Government funding would have a hard time gearing up to meet people’s needs by the end of the year. 

“The lead-up to Christmas is the most difficult time for families,” he says. “So, we decided that we were essentially going to continue our service as it was, and that’s been at a cost to us to keep that going, but that will wind back in the new year. We can’t keep doing that forever. 

“Our donors have been very generous in stepping up to continue that support, but we’ll have to start transitioning to a different kind of service with far less direct material assistance for bills, accommodation and the like.”

Mr Miller adds that for those keen to help, there are three things they can do. 

“Firstly, pray,” he says. “Second, continue to support financially so we can keep the services going that we still have – on our website there’s a ‘Donate for Christmas’ button. And then the last thing is, if you have the capacity to volunteer, there are opportunities for people to help.”

Mr Fitzpatrick would love to see more people volunteering at community pantries, to provide cost-of-living support alongside community connection and pathways into church life. Mr Miller says Anglicare would also welcome hearing from volunteers with the financial skills to help care for clients. 

“It’s obviously something that does require professional training,’ he says, “but there may be people who have the skills and the time – we would love to connect with volunteers!”

*not his real name

PRAY

• That agencies with extra Government funding would use it well and those in need would still be able to access support.
• For Anglicare staff as they deal with these changes, that they would have the resources and wisdom to work out how to respond so those who need help can still receive it.
• For people in vulnerable situations, that they might be able to get appropriate support from Anglicare and their local church, and there would be generosity in our community to care for them.

Feature Photo: A financial counselling session with counsellor Beth Schwalbe. Photo courtesy Anglicare