Since the August 2021 lockdown announcement, Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has remained active in communities, providing food packages as needed, and debt counselling for people in financial hardship – especially prevalent in Auckland where lockdown extended for more than three months.
This brief report examines the impact of lockdown on the social and economic well-being of vulnerable persons in Aotearoa. It draws from anecdotal data obtained from the CAP frontline team — consisting of Debt Coaches in local communities, as well as CAP’s Head Office Client Services Team — plus qualitative data from affected individuals and families amongst CAP’s client base. The report is guided by three questions:
- what impact did lockdown have on the social and economic well-being of disadvantaged families?
- how did lockdown impact those already in financial hardship?
- what options can attenuate the effects of lockdowns for vulnerable families in the future?
