Changwon Special City Provides Emergency Heating Cost Support to 777 Social Welfare Facilities

Heating Cost Support of 300,000 KRW for Welfare Facilities Excluded from Government Aid Measures

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Song Jong-gu] Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam will provide emergency heating cost support to social welfare facilities struggling with soaring heating expenses.

The recipients of this heating cost support are 777 social welfare facilities that do not receive government heating cost benefits, each receiving an emergency heating cost support of 300,000 KRW.

The special heating cost support targets include residential facilities such as child care facilities, single-parent family welfare facilities, group homes for the disabled, homeless rehabilitation facilities, and mental health care facilities, as well as usage facilities such as social, senior, and disabled welfare centers, day care centers for the disabled, and vocational rehabilitation facilities for the disabled.

In particular, it includes 690 daycare centers facing operational difficulties due to a decrease in infants and toddlers.

The government’s energy voucher support amount has been temporarily increased from 248,000 KRW (for single-person households) to 582,000 KRW (for four-person households), and recipients of livelihood benefits and near-poverty groups who do not receive energy voucher support receive a discount on city gas fees up to 592,000 KRW.

The application period is until the 28th of this month, and applications can be made at the administrative welfare centers in the resident’s town, township, or neighborhood offices, or by logging into Government24 and applying through Subsidy24.

The city plans to actively guide households that have not applied for energy vouchers or city gas discounts on how to apply and use them via phone calls, text messages, and mail.

Additionally, until the end of February, the city has designated a period for intensive discovery of energy-vulnerable groups and plans to actively identify at-risk households through human safety nets such as community leaders, honorary social welfare officers, and local community security councils in towns, townships, and neighborhoods.

For low-income households struggling without additional government support, the city plans to provide heating cost support by actively linking with “Hope Dream Changwon Bank” and private resources.

Hong Nam-pyo, the mayor of the special city, said, “I hope this heating cost support will help vulnerable groups have a warm winter. We will continue to do our best to realize inclusive welfare in Changwon with thick and meticulous support so that no one is left out.”