Labor Vows To Support Hunter Residents Facing Financial Hardship

BY CATHERINE ALLEN

The Labor Party has made an election promise to provide emergency relief funding of $166,000 to Swansea Community Cottage.

The facility was unsuccessful in the last round of Emergency Relief Funding which would amount to $190 thousand dollars over five years, instead, the service received $47,000 to provide emergency relief services until the end of this year.

"Swansea Community Cottage has been helping people in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle with emergency relief for 30 years, but last year they were advised their funding would not continue," said Shortland federal MP Pat Conroy.

"They helped 500 people last year with emergency relief, including low-income earners, single parents, people with a disability, Indigenous people, young people, and vulnerable people. As well as providing financial relief, food, clothing, and bedding, staff refer people to housing services, playgroups, out-of-school care and support groups such as AA, and help with Centrelink and TAFE."

The funding comes as part of a planned four-year and $40 million commitment to emergency relief organisations across the country that support at-risk Australians by providing food hampers, transport vouchers and financial assistance.

via Office of Pat Conroy MP