From the end of this month, BNC will lose $23,000 per year, meaning 250 to 500 Bellingen Valley locals will be left unable to meet their living needs. It’s a disappointing situation for BNC’s manager Gordon Jacob who told the Courier-Sun the consequences will be devastating and far reaching.

“Low income earners and those on Centrelink benefits make up more than 30 per cent of the shire and with the cost of living so high, unemployment high, no public transport, high electricity costs … many locals find they have little money to live. The Emergency Relief program helps clients when an unexpected bill comes in and they are caught short,” Gordon said.

“The funding loss will also impact on the other services we offer too - people in need require assistance through counselling, budgeting service, work development order support (payment of fines by doing voluntary work) or the No Interest Loan service. We will continue these services but it will be harder to get to the clients without the Emergency Relief program.”

Gordon said services provided by the neighbourhood centre were connected. “They are all aimed at the same clients” and this holistic approach over past years had helped low income earners get back on their feet, he said.

Funding by the Department of Social Services (DSS) has steadily declined under the Coalition, but cuts to front-line services, rather than advocacy and peak bodies, have been largely spared. This is set to change after Senate budget estimates revealed another $10 million is now not available.

Yet, according to Mr Morrison, the Federal Government’s “budget repair task” means there’s less money for certain organisations but critical on-ground services will continue.

“I announced new bridging funding on January 30 which will provide the opportunity for current recipients of DSS grants who did not qualify for funding to provide referrals to new contract organisations who will be providing services in the local area, ensuring there are no service gaps,” Mr Morrison said.

“The bridging funding will enable critical frontline services such as those provided by the BNC to continue until the end of March and provide the opportunity for them to refer their skills, staff and/or clients to new grant recipients.”

However, the statement by Mr Morrison has done little to quell the neighbourhood centre who say they’re confused and frustrated.

“The Federal Government has said there’ll be other providers but we are unable to find out who will be providing the five day a week service to the area. The Government won’t tell us. At the moment there is no one to do the service,” Gordon said.

“We’ve already seen an increase in our services over the past year. There’s more clients in distress. We’ve seen more people living in cars, who often have no money for fuel or food, and there are now older clients, single females with children. This is a growing problem and cuts not only affect the vulnerable in the community – it’ll have consequences for the entire shire.”