Bolstering essential services for at risk groups
On this Page:
The Government announced $27 million new funding on 26 March 2020 so essential social services can keep delivering for communities through COVID-19.
As part of this, up to $16 million is now available to bolster essential services for at risk groups. This is so providers can keep supporting at-risk individuals, families, whānau and communities in uncertain circumstances while responding to increased demand.
Essential services for at risk groups
Allocations are being made for specific essential services:
- Family violence services
- Sexual violence services
- Building Financial Capability services
- Engagement with hard to reach communities (E tu whānau, Pasefika Proud)
Essential family violence services
Essential family violence services support the immediate safety of women, older people, and children/whānau including:
- Refuges and crisis services - including face to face responses and services (for example working with the Police, health workers and places offering safe accommodation)
- Perpetrator services - including working with the Police and health workers to help individuals de-escalate risk and providing accommodation for perpetrators so women and children/whānau can stay safely in their homes
- Helplines – providing advice, guidance and referrals to essential services (including sexual violence)
Accessing one-off family violence grants and additional funding for essential services
Providers already contracted by MSD to deliver the services above will get a one-off grant so they can keep delivering essential services during COVID-19 restrictions. This includes family violence crisis services, perpetrator support and support for older people.
Partnering for Outcomes Advisors (who administer MSD-funded contracts) will be in touch with each of these providers to discuss specific grant amounts.
We’re still working through what additional funding may look like for helplines and other family violence agencies across New Zealand.
If you have any questions, please email: Family_Violence_CPP@msd.govt.nz.
Essential sexual violence services
Essential sexual violence services are these crisis and related services:
- 24/7 call out services (where available)
- Emergency face-to-face sessions (including crisis counselling)
- Crisis social work support
- Kaupapa Māori crisis providers
- Safe to talk 24/7 helpline service (phone, text, email, online chat)
Accessing additional funding for essential sexual violence services
We will be in touch with providers currently delivering these services about the additional funding they can expect to get.
Essential Building Financial Capability services
Current providers delivering Total Money Management services are an essential service, including face to face responses and service where it’s urgently needed.
The Money Talks Helpline is also an essential service and will keep providing advice and guidance for people in financial crisis, including referrals to other essential services
Accessing additional funding for essential Building Financial Capability services
We will be in touch with providers currently delivering these services about the additional funding they can expect to get.
Essential engagement with hard to reach communities (E tu whānau, Pasefika Proud)
$3.5m is allocated to support engagement with hard to reach communities through MSD’s E Tū Whānau and Pasefika Proud initiatives.
For more information about these initiatives please email:
