CAB still providing grassroots help related to floods

Citizens Advice Bureau in Takapuna has been helping those impacted by floods at a time when its own future is up in the air.

Tenancy problems and questions make up the bulk of an 11 per cent increase in inquiries since summer’s extreme weather events.

CAB branch manager Alison Munro said tenancy and accommodation issues were ongoing for people displaced from damaged rental properties. In the wake of the floods, those in unliveable homes were advised they were able to give their landlord two days’ notice and claim refunds for rent paid in advance.

Initial calls to CAB, when its staff were working remotely, included where to find emergency shelters and how to donate goods.

One man who had not eaten in four days in the wake of the 27 January flood was connected with a food parcel provider. Another needed help accessing emergency shelter during Cyclone Gabrielle in mid-February.

Munro said the increase in demand during a time of need showed why the organisation should continue to be funded. It faces losing $2 million across its 32 Auckland-wide branches under council’s slashed draft budget for 2023/24.

Defunding a valuable service that already ran on a lean model did not add up, she said.

“Managers are poorly paid, it’s not minimum but it’s not much better and everyone else works for free. We run on the smell of an oily rag, we really do.”

Munro said it was “devastating” to think about the cuts as she doesn’t know who will fill the gap. “Who takes the call from the man looking for the shelter if we’re not around? I don’t know.”

Along with other groups facing funding cuts, the CAB called on supporters to petition against them. The council will finalise its budget after considering feedback.