Rescuing Households in Crisis Due to Power Disconnections and Overdue Payments
Uijeongbu City Establishes a Winter Welfare Safety Net Through Public-Private Cooperation
Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun) will operate a focused period for identifying and supporting welfare blind spots during winter, from the 15th to February 28th of next year, in preparation for cold waves and heavy snowfall.
Uijeongbu City (Mayor Kim Donggeun) will operate a focused period for identifying and supporting welfare blind spots during winter from the 15th to February 28th of next year, in preparation for cold waves and heavy snowfall. Provided by Uijeongbu City
This focused initiative has been established to ensure the stability and safety of vulnerable households struggling due to seasonal risks and high inflation.
The support targets include: households at risk identified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare using a big data system (such as information on power or water disconnections); individuals classified as being at risk of dying alone through a risk assessment tool; those flagged by other departments or agencies, such as long-term utility fee defaulters or individuals referred by the police or fire departments; and households in crisis reported by residents in each district. In addition, the city will identify and support other socially vulnerable groups, including the elderly, people with disabilities, children, and the homeless.
The city will form a dedicated task force for the focused identification and support of households in crisis, develop tailored protection plans for vulnerable groups by department, and conduct safety inspections of social welfare facilities.
Furthermore, the city will send out notices about the identification of welfare blind spots to institutions closely connected to daily life, such as management offices and senior centers. Each district will also implement its own specialized projects, such as campaigns to identify households in crisis. In addition, the city will leverage the local safety network, with the Community Social Security Council and Happy Bridge (honorary social welfare officials) at its core, to take the lead in eliminating welfare blind spots.
Households in crisis that are identified will receive public support, such as customized benefits, as well as connections to a variety of private sector resources. For those with complex and diverse needs that cannot be resolved through these supports alone, they will be selected as recipients of integrated case management and will receive ongoing management and assistance.
An official from Uijeongbu City stated, "We will establish a thorough welfare safety net through public-private cooperation so that not a single neighbor struggling with the cold is left behind," and added, "If you discover a neighbor in need, please actively report it to the Welfare Policy Division, your local community center, the Gyeonggi-do Crisis Counseling Call Center, or the Ministry of Health and Welfare Counseling Center."
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