Red Cross Commission announces two new grants for 2012

3 February 2012

Red Cross Commission announces two new grants for 2012

The Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Commission has confirmed two more grants for those affected by the Canterbury earthquakes.

The first grant helps with storage costs for home owners with more than $100,000 damage or whose property is red-zoned.

Red Cross’ Christchurch office takes on average six calls a day from people worried about relocation costs, and storage has also been identified as an issue in feedback from other agencies and Red Cross volunteers working in the community.

The second grant is a repeat of 2011’s Winter Assistance Grant, and helps the elderly, those with children under 18, and the medically vulnerable, with winter power bills.

Many of those who received this grant last year have written to Red Cross, saying it made a huge difference to their lives. Our volunteers are already noticing elderly people worrying about power bills for this coming winter.

Sir John Hansen, Chair of the Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Commission, says almost a year on from February’s earthquake, people’s lives continue to be disrupted.

“These grants reflect the on-going financial and personal hardship being experienced by the people of Canterbury.

“Some homeowners have been paying for storage since the September 2010 earthquake. It is hoped these grants will help ease the financial burden, and help people continue to rebuild their lives.”

The Storage Assistance Grant is $500, for those with homes in the red zone or with more than $100,000 in damage. It will either be paid directly to the storage company, or retrospectively to the home owner on proof of payment.

The Winter Assistance Grant is $100 a month for four months (June, July, August, September 2012) and will be paid directly to the electricity retailer.

Red Cross is constantly working to identify areas for new grants, to help people affected by the Canterbury earthquakes.

It does this in several ways. The most important is by listening directly to affected people, either via the phone or through our volunteers and first aid trainers.

Red Cross also shares information with other agencies and organisations helping with the recovery of Christchurch, to identify the areas of greatest need.

It also references international research and trends to understand the lessons learned from other major disasters.

Almost $115 million has been raised to date by New Zealand Red Cross from the September and February earthquake appeals, with more than $67 million in grants distributed to 76,463 people.

The total includes $14 million which has been donated for specific purposes, such as the long term recovery of Christchurch, leaving $34 million still to distribute.

Of that, $20 million is earmarked for those grants which are still open, including the two new grants announced today.

The forms and criteria for the new grants will be available later today, Friday 3 February.

For more information on the new grants go to www.redcrosseqgrants.org.nz

ENDS

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