American civil rights activist and politician Jesse Jackson once said: “Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up”.
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It is this message that Nicky Gray from the City Mission hopes to pass onto his Family Service team, which works with people to give them a hand up following a range of challenges.
He said many caseworkers were aware of clients who had not made good financial decisions and were left locked into signed contracts or pay-day loans that debilitated their ability to financially survive.
Many of those people felt forced into those situations after losing employment due to a business closing or staff cut backs.
“Some people might have up to 20 hours of casual work every fortnight and when they report income earnings to Centrelink they are really no financially better off than what the basic New Start benefit would have provided them,” Mr Gray said.
“For many this challenges the incentive to work due with additional expenses for bus fares or fuel or childcare to attend work leaving them further financially disadvantaged.”
Others often in need were single parents who might not have full custody of their children but have them stay over every other weekend and find it tough to feed the kids on a New Start benefit.
“There’s barely enough to get them through by the time rent, power and food are covered,” Mr Gray said.
“We see a lot of people hooked on pay-day loans or rental contracts for basic household items and mobile plans. Unfortunately people over commit themselves into locked contracts leaving no spare income to survive.”
He said the smallest expense such as new tyre for the car, even six-months car registration or the need to see a GP or a medical specialist could lead to a call for emergency assistance.
The best choice, according to Mr Gray, was the NILS Network of Tasmania where people on a low income Health Care Card are eligible to apply for a no interest loan, with low affordable repayments.
Since July 2016, City Mission caseworkers have assisted 150 clients with NILS applications.
“This is the best way for people to buy new essential items without paying two to three times the value of the item they are renting,” Mr Gray said.
“These items can be for family necessities including fridges, bedding and furniture. We assist people to complete the NILS applications online knowing every application we assist with is providing those on low-incomes the best support … to buy new items without the traps.”