Kiwi kids welfare a core concern for The Salvation Army

Kiwi kids welfare a core concern for The Salvation Army

Despite the economy growing by over 12 per cent in the last five years, 300,000 New Zealand children[1] live in income poverty. Children’s welfare remains a key concern of The Salvation Army as it launches its Red Shield Appeal on Monday, May 2.

In the first quarter of 2016, 10,088 families were provided emergency food parcels (an 8.98 per cent increase compared to the same period last year) to be able to provide this basic necessity to the family unit, as issues with high housing costs, unemployment, outstanding debt and unexpected costs put pressure on the household budget.

Across the last year, over 120,000 adults and dependent children were provided either emergency food parcels or assistance in areas such as accommodation, social work, addiction services and social support from the Army.

“We have over one quarter of a million children living in poverty in New Zealand and half this number living in crowded, substandard living conditions,” says Head of the Army’s Community Ministries Major Pam Waugh.

“Of these children, over 61,700 under 17 year olds have parents that regularly access our services.”

As overcrowding remains an issue in the main centres and the provinces alike, the Army provided a further 89,020 bed nights to individuals families in need that would otherwise be homeless. When housing prices are rising faster than wages and salaries, ministries across the nation are reporting the number of those living in unsuitable environments, on the streets or in cars is growing.

“Numbers can numb the mind, but the individual human beings will break your heart,” says Major Waugh.

Waugh cites the case of a client who, when she first came to The Salvation Army, was caring for her pre-school granddaughter while living in a boarding house populated by mainly men, including alcoholics and community mental health patients. The pair lived confined to their room until The Salvation Army intervened and relocated them. She says these harrowing circumstances are not uncommon.

“An unexpected large bill, redundancy or a relationship that suddenly disintegrates can mean those who were already living day to day find themselves living meal to meal and in circumstances where they feel helpless and unsafe.

“Our services provide the network, tools and basic food necessities to break the cycle. Our Appeal gives Kiwis the opportunity to be the difference,” says Pam.

Providing the safety net and support that individuals need to make a positive change, Community Ministries sees itself as a doorway to a range of services which include social work, budgeting, emergency housing, employment training, counselling, addiction treatment and a range of parenting, life skills and personal development programmes – a mix tailored to the requirements and situations of each client and their family.

While this multi-faceted approach has met with great success in helping people get back on their feet, throughout the 2015 calendar year, 319 new individuals sought food aid each week from the Salvation Army for the first time and 54,556 food parcels were delivered to those left without other options.

The Salvation Army starts its main Red Shield fundraising campaign on Monday, May 2.

Donations to the Red Shield Appeal can be made to authorised street collectors, by calling 0800 53 00 00, at Countdown supermarkets, online at www.redshield.org.nz or via its Gifts of Hope catalogue of tangible help packages.

Gifts of Hope donation options include a School Lunch pack to provide healthy school lunches to children who would otherwise go without, food parcels to a family in desperate need, or a Financial Mentoring session. Your gift can help struggling families to turn their lives around, so they can look to the future with hope.

ENDS

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