By Cam Lucadou-Wells
FROM within Casey’s giant 300,000 population is a giant body of needy families – especially at Christmas.
Inside a vast room at Casey North Community Information and Support Services (CISS) in Narre Warren, toys and food are fast going out the door.
Executive director Susan Magee says more than 300 families asked for help in November, including 70 households for the first time.
Many of those will be back again before Christmas, facing a perfect storm of festive, holiday and back-to-school expenses.
“We have 300 Christmas hampers all filled with donations from the community. They’re already all spoken for.
“But I guarantee there will be more than 300 families in need.”
The hampers and toy gifts are a result of generous donations from Rotary and Rotaract service clubs, individuals and schools.
In 2015-’16 nearly 2000 households approached CISS for emergency relief – 667 for the first time.
Some came more than once, requiring not just funds, but counselling from CISS volunteers.
They are crushed by mounting utility bills, debts and steep private rent due to limited rental housing stock, Ms Magee says.
Some pay up to 80 per cent of their income on rent.
It’s symptomatic of Casey’s high level of welfare dependency, Ms Magee says.
There are high levels of family violence and breakdowns, bankruptcies and accumulated debt.
About 30,000 Casey residents owed $102 million in unpaid fines, an average of $3500 per debtor.
“But some of them owe enough for a house deposit,” Ms Magee explains.
“It’s logical that the municipality with the highest population has the highest number of issues.
“It needs to be taken into account for planning these services to respond to the enormous levels of disadvantage in Casey.”
Casey contributed more than $500,000 to Casey North CISS in 2015-’16.
Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon moved a motion at a council meeting to request more state funding.
Cr Stapledon said the state funded the CISS state peak body but not the individual branches.
At this time of year, back to school and holiday expenses also loom.
Families will be particularly feeling the pinch in the first year since the Federal Government scrapped the School Kids Bonus, Ms Magee said.
Ms Magee says CISS has limited funds for people in extreme financial distress such as for school expenses, no-interest loans, street swags.
This month Casey North CISS will give out their Christmas hampers full of non-perishables such as cakes that have been donated by the community and packed by volunteers.
It also has toys sorted for discrete ages of children, though it is still on the lookout for more gifts for teenage boys.
To donate, contact Casey North CISS on 9705 6699. Drop your donations at 90-92 Victor Crescent, Narre Warren.
