We offer two distinct services:

Hardship Assistance

Hardship Assistance Program is a service for people experiencing an immediate crisis situation or need short-term assistance. The Program helps people maintain their dignity when dealing with an emergency crisis, and at the same time encourages self-reliance.

Hardship Assistance is not an income support payment. It is expected that in most cases assistance will be for a one-off purpose.

Assistance is primarily provided in the form of:

  • Food parcels of non-perishable food (pasta, rice, canned fruit and soups etc.);
  • Food vouchers – These can be used at local supermarkets to buy food and domestic items;
  • Utility accounts – Vouchers for Telstra, gas, electricity and water accounts.

Financial Counselling

Financial Counselling is a confidential, community service, which assists people who are experiencing financial difficulties or who need information relating to credit and debt. It offers assistance with financial, business and para-legal matters. It also provides skills in money management.

Financial Counsellors are qualified staff and volunteers who are members of the Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW. Face-to-face interviews are confidential, supportive and non- judgemental.

Activities and Services included:

  • Short term emergency, financial and/ or material assistance;
  • Financial counselling services;
  • Referrals to other services that help to address underlying causes of financial crisis, including:
    • Drug and alcohol rehabilitation services;
    • Supported accommodation services;
    • Mental health services.

Service operating times

The Hardship Assistance Program runs fortnightly by appointment on Thursdays from 1:30pm to 4.30pm at Sydney Community Services Hunters Hill-Ryde Branch, located at 44 Gladesville Rd, Hunters Hill.

Financial Counselling is an outreach program of neighbouring organisation Christian Community Aid held at 46 Gladesville Road, Hunters Hill by appointment only.

Fees
No Charge

Areas Serviced

Lane Cove Area Ryde Area Hunters Hill Area
North Sydney Area Mosman Area

Contact the Community Connections Coordinator at Hunters Hill-Ryde:

P | 02 9817 0101
E | support@sydneycs.org