Minister of Social Affairs Yaakov Margi participated today (Tuesday) in the Labor and Social Affairs Committee in a discussion that dealt with wartime preparations to deal with the poverty and food insecurity report and assistance to disadvantaged populations.
Minister Margi presented to the committee members the dedicated assistance provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs since the outbreak of the war to disadvantaged populations and populations affected by the war. The minister also presented the Ministry of Social Affairs' assistance programs during routine days, which continue even during the war.
Wartime aid
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Since the outbreak of the war, the Ministry of Social Affairs has distributed 15,420 food stamps totaling 460 shekels to residents of the south and north who were affected by the war - a joint venture with the Eshel Chabad Association and the Jewish federations.
The food cards were distributed by the welfare departments of local authorities to families in need of food assistance.
In addition, with the outbreak of the war, the Ministry of Welfare allocated a flexible budget of 20 million shekels to the welfare departments in local authorities to provide basic necessities for residents of the south and north, such as: food, clothing, basic electrical appliances, transportation, evacuations, and more.
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Immediately upon the outbreak of the war, the ministry also allocated a flexible emergency budget of 7 million shekels to the ministry's districts for welfare departments for emergency needs, which includes material assistance to the population in terms of food supplies and more.
Year-round assistance programs
In parallel with the dedicated assistance provided by the ministry during the war, the Ministry of Social Affairs operates the "Food Security Initiative" all year round, including during the war, with an annual budget of approximately 150 million shekels. The initiative involves 25,665 families living in food insecurity, who receive a monthly prepaid card worth 350 shekels and a basket of fruits and vegetables delivered to their homes worth 150 shekels.
As part of the "Nutritional Security Initiative," approximately 2,600 infant formula (compound baby food) cards are distributed each month to toddlers up to one and a half years old from needy families.
The ministry is providing approximately 52 million shekels in support of food associations and various umbrella organizations that distribute food baskets and food cards to needy families and operate food factories and soup kitchens.
Each year, the ministry allocates a budget of 70 million shekels to local authorities in a joint venture with the "Friendship Fund." The goal of the venture is to provide a flexible budget to the managers of welfare departments in the authorities for assistance to disadvantaged populations in providing them with food, clothing, basic electrical appliances, transportation, evacuations, and more.
The ministry finances the "Otzma Center - Breathing for Well-Being" program with a budget of approximately 200 million shekels per year. The project operates in local authorities through the welfare departments in collaboration with the Rashi Foundation and the Joint. The program is designed for disadvantaged families who have fallen into financial distress and helps them escape the cycle of poverty with close support from designated social workers who build an intervention program for the families that includes a flexible basket of benefits, exercise of rights, employment guidance, proper family finances, empowerment, and self- and family-based capacity.
Minister Yaakov Margi: "The Ministry of Social Affairs routinely invests hundreds of millions in assistance to families living in poverty and food insecurity. Unfortunately, the war has intensified and harmed disadvantaged families. The Ministry of Social Affairs is investing resources and designated budgets to assist the affected population in all areas, especially in assisting with food and basic needs. We will continue to assist and develop solutions all year round, especially during the war.".
