Gangbuk-gu Launches Efforts to Identify Welfare Blind Spots in Winter

Crisis Household Detection Management System, Utilizing Various Channels Such as 'Visiting Community Centers' for Crisis Household Surveys... Customized Benefits under National Basic Livelihood Security, National and Seoul Emergency Welfare Programs, etc.

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[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangbuk-gu (District Mayor Park Gyeom-su) is intensively identifying and supporting vulnerable households in welfare blind spots until March next year in preparation for winter.

First, the district investigates high-risk individuals using the ‘Vulnerable Household Identification and Management System’ based on big data from 17 institutions, including various overdue payment statuses and power or water disconnection records.

Additionally, the district plans to analyze Seoul city’s disaster emergency living expense application data for households earning 100% or less of the median income on its own to explore hidden vulnerable households.

Along with this, the district conducts consultations with middle-aged single-person households at risk of solitary death, single-person moving-in households, and focuses on visiting non-residential living facilities such as motels and inns, linking with the ‘Visiting Community Service Center’ project to find target individuals.

Human resources active around community service centers, such as neighborhood leaders, honorary social welfare officers, and sharing neighbors, also monitor struggling families.

The district also promotes the project in collaboration with workers in industries mainly used by vulnerable groups, such as jjimjilbangs (Korean saunas) and gosiwons (small room rentals).

The district rechecks and monitors previously identified vulnerable families. Those who have been excluded from customized benefits under the ‘National Basic Livelihood Security Act’ will be carefully reviewed to receive other forms of support.

Furthermore, vulnerable households are identified through cooperation with public and private organizations within the region. The district requests cooperation from major welfare institutions serving welfare-vulnerable groups such as the elderly and disabled and actively guides related welfare services.

The district plans to strengthen publicity by posting banners at each community service center and social welfare facilities and distributing notices and promotional stickers at multi-use facilities in the area.

After actively reviewing eligibility by system, the district provides necessary services such as customized benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security, national and Seoul-type emergency welfare, and private support cooperation.

In addition, households facing complex problems are selected as integrated case management targets, and if intervention related to mental health such as mental illness or addiction is needed, they are connected to mental health welfare centers.

Park Gyeom-su, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “Due to COVID-19, face-to-face contact has decreased, making it more difficult to identify welfare blind spots. Although the environment is challenging, we will do our best to establish a tight safety net so that residents facing difficulties can receive timely help.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.