More ask for help

There has been an increase of up to 50% in calls to the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) according to the organisation's vice president.  About one in four calls each month comes from someone who has not received SVP assistance before.

“We see some new and emerging needs which may be as a result of the recession, for example, mortgage difficulties, delays in accessing social welfare payments, recent job loss, pay cuts or reduced working hours but these account for only a small proportion of the all the needs people present with at the 13 SVP regional offices.  Typical requests made to these offices are for help with food, fuel and atypical household expenditure such as communions and confirmations, and at back-to-school time and Christmas,” John Monaghan, National Vice-President, SVP, told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social & Family Affairs on Wednesday (July 14).

Most SVP visitation groups are seeing some form of increase in people newly in need contacting them for assistance and note the shame, panic and stress they meet among these people. 

Conferences are able to provide assistance with utility bills, food vouchers, education expenses and other basic needs but are not in a position to help with the payment of large debts and mortgages.  A significant proportion of Conferences refer people on to the state’s Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) for further assistance.

“We are aware that there are people reluctant to ask for assistance from the Society, perhaps because of embarrassment, but we are anxious to do what we can to listen, advise and offer practical help.”

”We provide assistance in confidence, maintaining the dignity of those involved, and being sensitive to their needs,” said John Monaghan. 

He called on the Government to resist making further cuts on the rates or services provided to Social Welfare recipients and he said that 25% of Irish households are living on incomes of €20,000 a year or less, while 50% of households are on incomes of under €40,000.

In a recent survey, over 80% of SVP Conferences felt that the removal of the Christmas bonus in 2009 had a negative effect on the people they assist. 

While the loss of the Christmas bonus was well flagged, it nonetheless had a significant impact on households. 

“This Christmas SVP is concerned about having to fill the gap again, or that moneylenders will do so,” said John Monaghan.

Most of the people being assisted by SVP are in receipt of long-term social welfare payments.  Lone parent households are the main household type requesting assistance. 

Between 15% and 20% of calls each month come from foreign nationals. 

The 18 SVP homeless hostels also provide accommodation to foreign nationals, many of whom do not have access to social welfare or rent supplement due to the Habitual Residence conditions of our Social Welfare code.

Calls in Cork were up over 50%, while in Galway they rose by 46% and Dublin by 37%.  In fact, there has been an increase in calls to 13 regional SVP offices. 

These figures only represent calls coming directly into its regional offices.  Many more calls go directly to local SVP conferences including calls for assistance from schools and referrals from Community Welfare Officers. 

SVP volunteers contribute 2 million hours of voluntary work and make over 400,000 home visits in a year.

On the plus side the public continues to support SVP and donations so far this year are up on last year.  Donations through the SVP website alone are up 25% in the first 4 months of the year.

by Ann Marie Foley