by Cam Lucadou-Wells
The relief was palpable, as hundreds were unshackled of $1.4 million of debts and bill stresses at a record-breaking Bring Your Bills event at Springvale City Hall on 24 February.
South East Community Links chief executive Peter McNamara said the results nearly doubled the savings achieved at last year’s event in Springvale ($646,000).
For the 350 attendees, a whopping 96 per cent reported reduced financial stress. The figures included 200-plus waivers, grants and hardship payment plans worth $628,000.
“The relief is visual, you see a smile and the colour return to their faces,” McNamara said.
Bring Your Bills offers practical, on-the-spot help with their utility bills, fines, rents, loans, Centrelink…