By ALENA HIGGINS
A STANTHORPE woman who “lost everything” and re-emerged from rock bottom has spoken out about the community support program that helped her get back on her feet, with the future of the program in the balance due to funding cuts.
Gayle Bell shudders to think where she would be if it were not for the assistance of Community Development Services (CDS) and her friends in Stanthorpe following a breakdown in November last year.
“I basically lost everything,” she said.
“I lost my job, my accommodation, my kids, my mental health and my physical health. I was quite unwell.”
But there to help pick up the pieces and offer a compassionate hand was CDS’s family support workers Lee Stroud and John Mahoney.
“I am there nearly every day,” the mother-of-three said of the organisation.
“I visit the financial planner, go for the social worker, they helped place me on the government housing list, my kids go there to use the youth services and when I was quite literally living on the creek bed, John was able to help me get temporary accommodation.”
However, the fate of the successful program was thrown into jeopardy on Christmas Eve last year after CDS was told by the Department of Social Services that its funding application for its family and parenting program had been rejected.
Mr Mahoney said while CDS would carry on its services without the $70,000 annual funding, they would be forced to close the long-standing Family Support program in June and two and a half job losses would result.
“Rather than fund a small not-for-profit like us, the department is giving our funding to big organisations based in cities to kind of do fly-in fly-out things,” he said.
“Our family support service has built up a fantastic network in the local community and Warwick, and we regularly meet with other service providers to make sure we work in partnerships.
“We have built a resource of great local knowledge that non-local large organistaions don’t have, and these organisations usually ask for our support to connect with families.
“We provide the government with a wholistic service that is great value for money. Imagine the costs of sending workers from Toowoomba to visit families.”
Mr Mahoney said he had spoken with the office of Maranoa MP Bruce Scott who reassured him that Mr Scott would advocate for the funding to be reinstated.
“I’m confident he is going to fight hard, but I am not confident he is going to be successful,” Mr Mahoney said.
For Ms Bell, speaking out in support of the organisation that helped save her life is the least she can do.
“I can’t speak highly enough of them,” she said.
“Part of my healing is to get people to realise that this service is so invaluable – it just can’t be replicated.”
People can send messages of encouragement to Mr Scott by phoning his office on 4662 2715.
