Absolutely livid!!

I maybe should have posted this in the vent thread, but I feel that in light of the recent publicity mums on the DPB have had some of you would find this of interest.

Last Thursday night, a dear friend of mine was woken by her neighbour at 5.30am. Her house was on fire and the arsonist had knocked on his door to let him know that the house next door was going up in flames. She dragged her daughters, aged 2 and 8, from thier beds and through the smoke filled house, dragged them out into the rain, and collapsed in shock. Her car had been set alight in the garage, under the house. The garage walls burnt through, the house was badly smoke damaged. All the furniture and bedding and clothing is smoke damaged. The building was assessed as structurely sound, and as she had nowhere else to go (no family in town) she and her girl's have moved back in. The landlord will be getting the house commercially cleaned and repainted.

She went to WINZ to ask for a clothing grant for her girls, and a food grant as all the food in the cupboards was inedible, and was told NO. When she got upset and kicked up a stink, her case manager threatened to put a note on her record saying she wasn't coping, so CYPFS could assess her.

How is this helpful? How is this fair? To ask for help, and leave feeling threatened?

I'm off today to buy clothing for her girl's. This woman is one of the best mother's I know. And thanks to some people she has had no help at a time when she needed more help then ever.

Wow what a scary experience for your friend, thankfully they all got out ok!

Did they say why she couldn't get any money? That's pretty terrible, and good on you for stepping in and helping out your friend.

Yeah some good ideas there Henna79.

oh my god that is distgusting!!! have you got an account set up cos i'd totally put a wee bit of money in to help out and im sure there would be other ppl willing to help too. my gosh that makes me so angry!!

Yes the arsonist was identified by the nieghbour and has been to court, sentenced with 14 years.

The reporter I spoke to at he local paper had been at the court house on the day of the trial, so found it interesting that my friend had no help from WINZ. It's just such horrible thing to happen to good people.

I will talk to her later today when I drop off some stuff about if she'll accept money to help (she hates asking for help which is why I'm so involved at the moment).

OMG at WINZ! Man they really rile me. This is totally the type of thing they should be helping with!!!

I am keen to help out too - if you do set up an account let me know. Every $$ helps - and I hope she accepts it.....

Just had a thought - has she got in contact with the Salvation Army in her area. There's probably a food bank she can tap into

I am shocked. Hopefully you & the news paper can do an appeal for her & the kids, lots of people will want to help. And will want to rub it in WINS face.

I am feed up with the one sided benefit, & I think the whole systems need looking at.

Does she have insurance???? That will cover her stuff.

Edited by jazzy

Horrific! I second the sallies suggestion, or Close-Up or Campbell Live for some more exposure. I cannot believe that she was treated like that by her case manager, they cannot expect her to clothe her children in smoke damaged clothing and eat smoke damaged food!

I would also contribute to an account if she is willing to accept the funds.

The system is ridiculous. It seems that real deserving cases miss out on basic needs being met - the very thing the system was designed for. Hopefully something gets set up for her soon so we can all support her through this

winz give out food grants but they have to be paid back... i find it hard to believe they wouldnt give her a food grant...

def try the sallies for clothes and a food grant