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A strategic approach to providing Emergency Relief
The Western Australian Council of Social Services (WACOSS) is acutely aware of the impact the recent economic downturn has had on families and individuals across the state. With increased levels of unemployment, business closures, bankruptcies, the rising cost of goods, utilities and services and burgeoning rental costs, WACOSS has seen a dramatic increase in the demand for resources from agencies delivering emergency relief, particularly in regional areas.
Lotterywest recently provided over $3 million to help more than 100 agencies to provide food, clothing, shelter, transport and other essential items for people experiencing financial difficulty over the coming year. Lotterywest support was also directed to WACOSS, to coordinate a series of emergency relief forums, administer the State Emergency Relief Committee and host a conference for staff and volunteers from emergency relief agencies across the state. This has enabled WACOSS to play a pivotal role in providing advice, developing resources, coordinating training, representing and providing advocacy on behalf of the emergency relief network regarding issues associated with people experiencing financial crisis.
Because much of the extreme financial pressures associated with the economic downturn is experienced by families in regional communities, Lotterywest increased the amount provided to organisations that identified strong need in their community and had the capacity to deliver additional funds. The two pronged approach, where grants are provided to deliver emergency relief and to WACOSS, to provide organisational support to the sector, has meant that regional and remote organisations have the necessary support to optimise their service delivery and respond to community demand.
The Geraldton Resource Centre provides an example of how this can made a difference. In the recent grant round they received a grant of $51,600 which was a substantial increase on the $25,000 provided the previous year. Not only did they demonstrate community demand for relief but they have also improved their service delivery through the advice and information sharing achieved through their interactions with WACOSS and the various collaborative forums their staff have been able to engage in.
Whilst the State Emergency Relief Committee and other initiatives coordinated by WACOSS are having an impact, Lyn Levy, Director Sector Services and Development of WACOSS acknowledges that there is still more work to be done to tackle the issues faced by the sector.