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NEWS
Jerusalem Municipality Launches Program to Raise Awareness
on Eligibility for Government Allotments
By Betzalel Kahn
Following reports by the Jerusalem Municipal Welfare
Department regarding difficulties in day-to-day subsistence
among chareidi families since the cut in Children's
Allowances, Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky has initiated a
unique program aimed at fostering awareness among city
residents on how to take full advantage of their eligibility
for assistance through Bituach Leumi and maximize various
allotments.
In the first phase of the project, launched this week, the
Municipal Welfare Department is providing guidance for
residents of Meah Shearim, Beit Yisrael, Shechunat
HaBucharim, Morasha, Shmuel Hanovi, Maalot Dafna, Ramat
Eshkol, Sanhedria and Sanhedria Murchevet.
The meetings will take place at Rechov Magen Ha'elef 1 in the
Shmuel Hanovi neighborhood, free of charge and with separate
seating. In addition to staff members from the Municipal
Welfare Bureaus, also taking part will be representatives of
Saneigor Kehilati, Yedid, Paamonim and SHIL (Citizens'
Assistance Service). During the course of the meetings
professionals will guide the participants in finding ways to
fully utilize their rights to receive funds from Bituach
Leumi, such as Children's Allowances, Guaranteed Income, the
Wisconsin Program, Handicapped Allotments, etc.
Municipal Welfare Department workers operating in the various
neighborhoods point to the financial strain on the chareidi
public as a result of the cut in Children's Allowances on one
hand, and a lack of awareness of their rights through various
government authorities on the other. Many city residents, for
instance, are unaware that in certain cases they may be
eligible for discounts on their phone bill or ways they can
realize their rights to a pension, allotments through the
various services, special children's allowances, assistance
with housework, etc.
In addition to the general guidance sessions, individual
questions can be asked through the assistance booths set up
by the various organizations and surveys of opportunities for
employment and training courses are provided by the Municipal
Employment Unit. The Welfare Bureaus program will be expanded
to additional neighborhoods in the coming weeks, and
overviews will be given on topics such as housing rights,
eligibility for rental assistance and free housing, mortgage
loans, etc.
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