The Government has moved to support vulnerable citizens and families today with a $27 million support package.
It’s aimed at ensuring everyone is cared for during the lockdown and has already been welcomed by the Auckland City Mission.
Coronavirus is forcing them to change how they feed people, through freshly bagged meals instead of sitting down together.
“Instead of a communal meal setting, we have prepared takeaway meals, one package for one day,” says Chris Farrelly.
The individual servings replace the mission’s usual sit down meals in hopes to limit the spread through the vulnerable homeless community.
“At the moment, we’re preparing about 400 a day and we will grow them if necessary,” Mr Farrelly explains.
The lockdown has exposed a far wider need too, recognised today in the $27 million dollars specific to supporting the social services sector.
“The package supports services to ensure people have access to the food and other goods they need to survive…keep families safe from domestic violence and offer crisis support,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern detailed.
The last census showed more than 3,000 people are homeless across the country with coronavirus pushing housing and community providers to find extra accommodation.
Auckland City Mission says it’s grateful for the support from the Government during this especially tough time.
They’ve been working alongside other providers nationwide closely with the Ministry of Social Development since the outbreak began, to get homeless into motels.
The mission is also providing health care check-ups on the spot for those people who are in need.
“The same information that the Ministry of Health put out is exactly the information that we’re promoting down here on the ground,” says City Mission nurse, Anna FaaLenuu.
All actions have been aimed at keeping everyone as safe as possible while concern continues to rise over the impact of Covid-19.
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