Vulnerability Report

NZCCSS is committed to giving priority to the poor and vulnerable members of our society. To this end our new Vulnerability Report, which commenced in mid 2009, will actively monitor the level of economic and social hardship experienced by a growing number of New Zealanders.

Each Vulnerability Report will provide the latest information we have been able to access from government agencies and from a range of community based organisations – both from our members and from others. It is intended that these snapshot quarterly reports will contribute to the development of compassionate policy responses. 

Vulnerability Report Issue 5, June 2010 

INTRODUCTION: Unemployment has dropped but it’s too early to celebrate.

The fifth Vulnerability Report covers the trends experienced by government agencies and community based organisations in the first quarter of 2010. Data from April and May has been included when available. 

Despite a surprising drop in the unemployment rate from 7.1% in the December 2009 quarter to 6% in the March 2010 quarter, almost all community based agencies were reporting a sustained high level of demand for their services.

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Vulnerability Report Issue 4, March 2010

While there are some early economic indications that the worst of the recession is over it is evident from the statistics outlined in this report that agencies are as busy as ever. It will be for some time before economic recovery helps to restore financial security and well being.

Recession impacts are very uneven – it is youth, Maori and Pacific peoples and benefit dependent households that are bearing the brunt.

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Vulnerability Report Issue 3, December 2009

While economists have declared that the technical recession is over this is not how it feels to the families that continue to approach social services agencies for help.

For agencies that contributed information for this report, demand for services has stayed either stable (at peak levels) or continued to increase.

Only a few were able to report a slight easing off in the numbers of people approaching them.

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Vulnerability Report Issue 2, September 2009

The number of people receiving the unemployment benefit has trebled in the year to June 2009. Alongside this, community based agencies are reporting significant and ongoing increases in demand for social services.

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Additional background information:

Issue 2, September 2009, Background Information

 

Vulnerability Report Issue 1, June 2009 

New Zealand entered the recession with hundreds of thousands of children and families already in poverty and with an under resourced social services sector. It is clear that the recession is making life more difficult for many people and placing an even greater strain on helping agencies.

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Additional background information:

Issue 1, June 2009, Background Information