Third Vulnerability Report out from NZ Council of Christian Social Services

As we go into Christmas with messages of goodwill to one and all, along with messages about our economic indicators improving, we have to still be very mindful that the recession has a long tail where social services are concerned.

 

This was well demonstrated last week by the release of the third vulnerability report from the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services.  This identifies some disturbing trends:

• an increase in the numbers of New Zealand children living in benefit dependent households
• a sharp rise in the numbers of families on the Housing New Zealand Corporation ‘A Priority’ (severe housing need) housing waiting list
• Service providers have been under huge stress with one agency chairperson describing the increased referrals as almost overwhelming…Drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation programmes, social work support and counselling have all experienced high demand”.
• a hugely disproportionate impact for some sectors of our communities. At 14% the unemployment rate for Māori is over 3 times higher than the 4.5% rate for Pākehā. The proportion of unemployed young people has climbed from 16% a year ago to 25% now.”

Vulnerability Reports will only be published on-line with printable versions downloadable from the www.justiceandcompassion.org.nz website.