Patsy is Manager of the Glen Innes Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and has now been in this role for six months. Situated at 100 Line Road, out local CAB can be found just behind the Library. Patsy advised it just needs grass on the roof and their building would double-up for Hobbiton!She thanked the Club for our support, particularly with the Foodbank. (Members will recall during December we collected and donated food items; grocery vouchers; and toothbrushes).
Patsy explained that the CAB is an independent community service, largely supported by Council. They have a very professional National Head Office funded by Central Government. All CABs collate information that feeds into social policy via the Ministry of Business.
Generally CABs provide free and confidential advice to everyone. They take the time to listen; and then provide information, options and support to fit needs. Patsy explained they are very much in the business of “helping people help themselves”. Staff (referred to as “interviewers”) are all volunteers and generally work shifts from 9am-4pm. Interviewers come from all walks of life and can offer a cross-section of advice and they also have a comprehensive database to draw from.
She pointed out that there is absolutely no time pressure put on the people coming to see them. All are welcome and all get a good hearing. The role of the interviewer can be in a professional capacity or just a listening ear, for straight-forward or complex issues.
Patsy said they deal with all sorts of enquiries, but those pertaining to Citizenship and Immigration are common at GI CAB. The Pacific Island community seek advice frequently on sponsoring someone.
Housing is also another big issue in GI: rental housing, flatmates, landlords, accommodation issues in general. Patsy stated 50-60% of the people they see locally are on a WINZ benefit and have WINZ subsidized housing. To illustrate the problem, she spoke of a large boarding house in Panmure which was used regularly by WINZ for emergency housing. The boarding house holds 120 people and charged $315 per week for a room. This left those on a benefit with only $18 per week for everything else. She told us that the medium income in GI was $18K (per annum) per household.
The CAB has a huge database which comes into its own with steps on “what to do” for many queries. Tamaki Budgeting are a key partner and they hold 7 budgeting clinics a week and two legal clinics a week. They also have free coffee meets for those who are using the budgeting clinics which helps to imbed ideas and changes.
Other services provided include:
- The foodbank and frequent requests for food parcels
- Work contracts and conditions of work queries
- Relationships issues (custody, separation, divorce)
- Inland Revenue issues
- Consumer rights
- Justice of the Peace services are available at all CABs
Patsy closed by telling us the story of Ana who came to them for a food parcel. They subsequently discovered she had eight children to support. As a contract worker, Ana did not earn during the school holidays and they also learned she needed help to get uniforms for three children attending the local primary school; another child needed a replacement sports shirt (which had been stolen) and still another needed a new college shirt (worth $50). The CAB knew who to approach for help and the Uniform items were provided, along with a free replacement sports top (which the school was happy to provide when it found out the original was stolen). This is the type of urgent assistance that when approached, our Club assists with.
For full information on the comprehensive services of the CAB, please visit: www.cab.org.nz/acabnearyou/gleninnes/Pages/home.aspx