Winter Hasn’t Started but Many Families Are Already at Breaking Point
As winter approaches, Community Link’s Wellness Connector team is already seeing a noticeable shift in the needs of whānau across our region, and the change from last year is significant.
Ana and Sarah, our Wellness Connectors, report that this year the pressure is arriving earlier, hitting harder, and lasting longer.
A Different Kind of Need Emerging
Last winter, many families came to us facing a single, acute challenge. It might have been:
· A trailer load of firewood
· Help covering an unexpected power bill
· Support for a specialist visit
With the right intervention, many of these situations could be stabilised relatively quickly.
This year is different.
We are seeing a growing number of families, many for the first time, who simply cannot make ends meet. These are whānau who have been doing everything they can to hold things together, but rising costs are now pushing them to a point where reaching out becomes the only option.
It’s a courageous step, and one we are seeing more often.
Energy Costs Tipping Families Over the Edge
A key pressure point this year is energy costs.
As winter power bills begin to arrive, they are acting as a tipping point. Families who have been just coping are suddenly pushed into crisis when faced with the reality of higher heating costs.
Ana and Sarah are seeing:
· Increased anxiety about keeping homes warm
· Difficult trade-offs between heating, food, and other essentials
· A growing need for multiple forms of support, rather than one-off assistance
Many whānau are not just behind, they are at risk of falling into even more complex situation without sustained help.
Support Needs Are More Long-Term
Unlike last year, where a single intervention could make a meaningful difference, families now often need ongoing support.
This includes:
· Repeated assistance with heating and energy costs
· Access to practical resources like heating, bedding, and clothing
· Financial guidance to navigate sustained cost pressures
This shift is placing additional demand on services, but it also highlights the importance of wrapping support around families in a more connected way.
Why Community Initiatives Matter More Than Ever
This is why initiatives linked to our Cold Kids campaign are so critical this winter.
· The PJ Project helped tamariki have warm sleepwear something that makes a real, immediate difference in cold homes.
· The Mitre 10 hottie promotion is helping families access simple but effective ways to stay warm.
· Our Money Matters clinic is supporting individuals and families navigate financial pressures and plan for the months ahead.
Each of these plays a different role, but together they respond to the broader, deeper need we are now seeing.
If This Is You
If you’re feeling the pressure right now, we know this may be the first time you’ve found yourself in this situation.
Asking for help is incredibly hard. It’s not something most people ever expect they will need to do.
But if this is your reality, please know this: you are not alone.
Your community has your back. That’s why your neighbour, friend, or colleague is supporting the Cold Kids campaign, because they want to make sure no child, and no family, goes through winter unsupported.
Together, we are your Community Link.
If you need support, reach out. Talk to Ana or Sarah from our Wellness Connector team, they’re here to listen and to help.
The Winter Ahead
Winter has not yet fully set in, but already the signs are clear.
The anxiety many families are feeling is both deeper and more widespread than we saw last year.
For some, this will be the first winter they’ve had to ask for help. For others, it will be a longer road than expected.
What remains constant is the strength of the community, and the difference that timely support can make.
As we head into the colder months, the message is simple:
We are a community that has each others back when times are tough.