❓ Hon Ed Dermer asks about Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) applications in specific locations. Hon Robyn McSweeney provides detailed data and outlines program expansions, including financial counsellor positions and broadened eligibility criteria.
AnsweredQoN 141Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HARDSHIP UTILITY GRANT SCHEME — APPLICATIONS
How many applications were received for hardship utility grant scheme assistance for the months of August 2008, January 2009, January 2010 and January 2011 from residents in the following locations: Balga, Midland, Cannington, Bassendean, Port Hedland and Broome? I apologise that there is a typographical error in the written question; it refers to suburbs rather than locations. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
How many applications were received for hardship utility grant scheme assistance for the months of August 2008, January 2009, January 2010 and January 2011 from residents in the following locations: Balga, Midland, Cannington, Bassendean, Port Hedland and Broome? I apologise that there is a typographical error in the written question; it refers to suburbs rather than locations. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The number of HUGS applications received was as follows. In August 2008, there was one application from Balga; and zero from the other locations. In January 2009, there were two applications from Balga, one from Bassendean, and four from Broome. In January 2010, there were 16 applications from Balga, 11 from Midland, two from Cannington, five from Bassendean and 13 from Broome. In January 2011, there were eight applications from Balga, four from Midland, three from Bassendean, one from Port Hedland and 12 from Broome. I mentioned earlier in question time that there have been 20 000 referrals. There have actually been 20 947 referrals. To further assist, because the demand for HUGS has increased, in November we called for expressions of interest for six non-recurrent financial counsellor positions in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen, Fremantle, Rockingham, Kwinana, Gosnells, Cannington foothills and Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks, to commence from 1 December through to 30 June 2012. Financial counsellors are now in place in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen Fremantle, Rockingham and Kwinana through Anglicare; in Gosnells and Cannington foothills through the Jacaranda Community Centre; and in Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks through the City of Wanneroo. The HUGS implementation steering committee endorsed amendments to the HUGS information and funding guidelines on 15 December 2010. That was for Busselton Water and Aqwest to join HUGS. We have also expanded the criteria for exceptional circumstances of hardship to include domestic violence, mental health, marriage and relationship break-up and funeral costs. I know that Hon Ed Dermer is very concerned about people in the community, and that is why I have added that to the answer.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The number of HUGS applications received was as follows. In August 2008, there was one application from Balga; and zero from the other locations. In January 2009, there were two applications from Balga, one from Bassendean, and four from Broome. In January 2010, there were 16 applications from Balga, 11 from Midland, two from Cannington, five from Bassendean and 13 from Broome. In January 2011, there were eight applications from Balga, four from Midland, three from Bassendean, one from Port Hedland and 12 from Broome. I mentioned earlier in question time that there have been 20 000 referrals. There have actually been 20 947 referrals. To further assist, because the demand for HUGS has increased, in November we called for expressions of interest for six non-recurrent financial counsellor positions in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen, Fremantle, Rockingham, Kwinana, Gosnells, Cannington foothills and Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks, to commence from 1 December through to 30 June 2012. Financial counsellors are now in place in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen Fremantle, Rockingham and Kwinana through Anglicare; in Gosnells and Cannington foothills through the Jacaranda Community Centre; and in Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks through the City of Wanneroo. The HUGS implementation steering committee endorsed amendments to the HUGS information and funding guidelines on 15 December 2010. That was for Busselton Water and Aqwest to join HUGS. We have also expanded the criteria for exceptional circumstances of hardship to include domestic violence, mental health, marriage and relationship break-up and funeral costs. I know that Hon Ed Dermer is very concerned about people in the community, and that is why I have added that to the answer.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The number of HUGS applications received was as follows. In August 2008, there was one application from Balga; and zero from the other locations. In January 2009, there were two applications from Balga, one from Bassendean, and four from Broome. In January 2010, there were 16 applications from Balga, 11 from Midland, two from Cannington, five from Bassendean and 13 from Broome. In January 2011, there were eight applications from Balga, four from Midland, three from Bassendean, one from Port Hedland and 12 from Broome. I mentioned earlier in question time that there have been 20 000 referrals. There have actually been 20 947 referrals. To further assist, because the demand for HUGS has increased, in November we called for expressions of interest for six non-recurrent financial counsellor positions in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen, Fremantle, Rockingham, Kwinana, Gosnells, Cannington foothills and Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks, to commence from 1 December through to 30 June 2012. Financial counsellors are now in place in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen Fremantle, Rockingham and Kwinana through Anglicare; in Gosnells and Cannington foothills through the Jacaranda Community Centre; and in Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks through the City of Wanneroo. The HUGS implementation steering committee endorsed amendments to the HUGS information and funding guidelines on 15 December 2010. That was for Busselton Water and Aqwest to join HUGS. We have also expanded the criteria for exceptional circumstances of hardship to include domestic violence, mental health, marriage and relationship break-up and funeral costs. I know that Hon Ed Dermer is very concerned about people in the community, and that is why I have added that to the answer.
I mentioned earlier in question time that there have been 20 000 referrals. There have actually been 20 947 referrals. To further assist, because the demand for HUGS has increased, in November we called for expressions of interest for six non-recurrent financial counsellor positions in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen, Fremantle, Rockingham, Kwinana, Gosnells, Cannington foothills and Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks, to commence from 1 December through to 30 June 2012. Financial counsellors are now in place in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen Fremantle, Rockingham and Kwinana through Anglicare; in Gosnells and Cannington foothills through the Jacaranda Community Centre; and in Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks through the City of Wanneroo. The HUGS implementation steering committee endorsed amendments to the HUGS information and funding guidelines on 15 December 2010. That was for Busselton Water and Aqwest to join HUGS. We have also expanded the criteria for exceptional circumstances of hardship to include domestic violence, mental health, marriage and relationship break-up and funeral costs. I know that Hon Ed Dermer is very concerned about people in the community, and that is why I have added that to the answer.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The number of HUGS applications received was as follows. In August 2008, there was one application from Balga; and zero from the other locations. In January 2009, there were two applications from Balga, one from Bassendean, and four from Broome. In January 2010, there were 16 applications from Balga, 11 from Midland, two from Cannington, five from Bassendean and 13 from Broome. In January 2011, there were eight applications from Balga, four from Midland, three from Bassendean, one from Port Hedland and 12 from Broome. I mentioned earlier in question time that there have been 20 000 referrals. There have actually been 20 947 referrals. To further assist, because the demand for HUGS has increased, in November we called for expressions of interest for six non-recurrent financial counsellor positions in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen, Fremantle, Rockingham, Kwinana, Gosnells, Cannington foothills and Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks, to commence from 1 December through to 30 June 2012. Financial counsellors are now in place in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen Fremantle, Rockingham and Kwinana through Anglicare; in Gosnells and Cannington foothills through the Jacaranda Community Centre; and in Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks through the City of Wanneroo. The HUGS implementation steering committee endorsed amendments to the HUGS information and funding guidelines on 15 December 2010. That was for Busselton Water and Aqwest to join HUGS. We have also expanded the criteria for exceptional circumstances of hardship to include domestic violence, mental health, marriage and relationship break-up and funeral costs. I know that Hon Ed Dermer is very concerned about people in the community, and that is why I have added that to the answer.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The number of HUGS applications received was as follows. In August 2008, there was one application from Balga; and zero from the other locations. In January 2009, there were two applications from Balga, one from Bassendean, and four from Broome. In January 2010, there were 16 applications from Balga, 11 from Midland, two from Cannington, five from Bassendean and 13 from Broome. In January 2011, there were eight applications from Balga, four from Midland, three from Bassendean, one from Port Hedland and 12 from Broome. I mentioned earlier in question time that there have been 20 000 referrals. There have actually been 20 947 referrals. To further assist, because the demand for HUGS has increased, in November we called for expressions of interest for six non-recurrent financial counsellor positions in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen, Fremantle, Rockingham, Kwinana, Gosnells, Cannington foothills and Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks, to commence from 1 December through to 30 June 2012. Financial counsellors are now in place in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen Fremantle, Rockingham and Kwinana through Anglicare; in Gosnells and Cannington foothills through the Jacaranda Community Centre; and in Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks through the City of Wanneroo. The HUGS implementation steering committee endorsed amendments to the HUGS information and funding guidelines on 15 December 2010. That was for Busselton Water and Aqwest to join HUGS. We have also expanded the criteria for exceptional circumstances of hardship to include domestic violence, mental health, marriage and relationship break-up and funeral costs. I know that Hon Ed Dermer is very concerned about people in the community, and that is why I have added that to the answer.
I mentioned earlier in question time that there have been 20 000 referrals. There have actually been 20 947 referrals. To further assist, because the demand for HUGS has increased, in November we called for expressions of interest for six non-recurrent financial counsellor positions in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen, Fremantle, Rockingham, Kwinana, Gosnells, Cannington foothills and Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks, to commence from 1 December through to 30 June 2012. Financial counsellors are now in place in Midland, Mandurah, Mirrabooka, Balga, Girrawheen Fremantle, Rockingham and Kwinana through Anglicare; in Gosnells and Cannington foothills through the Jacaranda Community Centre; and in Merriwa–Clarkson–Quinns Rocks through the City of Wanneroo. The HUGS implementation steering committee endorsed amendments to the HUGS information and funding guidelines on 15 December 2010. That was for Busselton Water and Aqwest to join HUGS. We have also expanded the criteria for exceptional circumstances of hardship to include domestic violence, mental health, marriage and relationship break-up and funeral costs. I know that Hon Ed Dermer is very concerned about people in the community, and that is why I have added that to the answer.
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