David Williams Fund Update 2012

The David Williams Fund (DWF) has recently updated its database to include stats on financial counselling sessions, which enables us to see how many people the service is assisting. Since April, DWF has had 204 financial counselling sessions, and saved clients over $180,000 through negotiating debt waivers with banks, utility companies etc.

The festive season food vouchers are nearly complete for 2012 with almost $20,000 in food vouchers going to those in hardship. Each approved Client receives $60 towards making their Christmas a little more special.

Here is an approximate breakdown of where the DWF budget has been spent this year:

• $12,000 went to study assist clients, getting them back to studying. Many have now gone back to work as a result of this important assistance.
• $30,000 was spent on food vouchers – to purchase basic items such as fresh fruit vegetables and meat.
• Medical costs (over $14,000).
• Rent payments, preventing homelessness (nearly $10,000).
• Refrigerators (nearly $6000).
• Beds (over $6000).
• Utility expenses (nearly $8,000).  .

All of the above are basic living requirements – food, a home, power, something to sleep on, something to keep food fresh and medical costs that are not covered by the PBS scheme.

The fund currently has over 800 active clients. 1107 applications were made for the service with 999 being partially or fully approved. $131,000 was requested with around $100,000 being approved.

Thank you to all those who have supported VAC/GMHC fundraising efforts.