By Jacob Wilson, Jimboomba Times | April 22 2019 – 2:00PM
LOGAN’S emergency relief organisations will receive almost $400,000 to support disadvantaged people in financial hardship under a Shorten Labor government.
Rankin MP Jim Chalmers, Labor canddiate for Forde Des Hardman and Shadow Assistant Minister for families and communities Jenny McAllister announced the funding at Slacks Creek on Friday, April 19.
Multilink Community Services, Access Community Services, YFS, Twin Rivers Community Care Limited Eagleby and Eagleby Community Association would get a share of the $399,000 set aside for the Logan area.
Labor would provide $40 million over four years to emergency relief organisations across Australia.
Shadow Minister for communities and families Jenny McAllister said too many Australians were falling through the cracks.
“Emergency relief funding means you might be able to put some food in the fridge. It might mean you can put some petrol in the tank. It might mean you can get the medicine you need from the chemist,” she said.
“Emergency relief, sometimes, is all that between an individual and their family and a crisis.”
Labor candidate for Forde Des Hardman said it was vital to ensure a safety net was in place for people who find themselves in difficult situations.
“Emergency relief funding is really important to a lot of people in our community…you just never know when it’s going to happen to you,” he said.
Rankin MP Jim Chalmers said there was high demand for emergency relief services in Logan.
“Without this funding, these organisations would have to turn away people seeking assistance or significantly reduce the services they offer,” he said.
YFS spokeswoman Cath Bartholo said the organisation was able to help 9000 people in need of support last financial year.
“Emergency relief funding enables us to work with more people but also then to start connecting them back to other services that we all deliver,” she said.
“…It helps people make that difference then where they can start to plan a bit ahead and not stay in crisis. Even possibly to link to employment opportunities.”
The 2019 federal election will be held on May 18.
Emergency relief funding
Multilink Community Services: $118,000
Access Community Services: $65,000
YFS: $93,000
Twin Rivers Community Care Limited Eagleby: $15,000
Eagleby Community Association: $108,000