Warm Hope for Neighbors in Need! Songpa-gu Launches the ‘2024 Sumeun Huimang Chatgi Project’

Delivery of Daily Necessities Package 'Songpa Love Pack' and Notices, Joint District and Neighborhood Consultations... Enhancing Welfare Awareness
In 2023, 670 Households Received In-depth Consultations → 51 Households Linked to Customized Services and Case Management Implemented

“When my mother, who was the pillar of our family, suddenly fell ill, I felt completely lost about how to move forward. I am truly grateful for the care and support we received.”

These were the words of a minor child from a single-parent family who benefited from last year’s ‘Hidden Hope Finding Project’ and conveyed their thanks to the former case manager. This family faced difficulties such as unpaid rent and utility bills due to the head of household’s sudden cerebral hemorrhage. Through this project, they were selected as a case management target and gradually overcame the crisis with financial support and medical expenses provided by various private organizations.

To help more newly registered basic livelihood security recipients achieve self-reliance, Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) has actively launched the ‘2024 Hidden Hope Finding Project’ following last year’s efforts.

‘Hidden Hope Finding’ is a comprehensive support program for newly registered basic livelihood security households who urgently need help but lack access to welfare service information. Once selected as a basic livelihood recipient, within two weeks, the district’s integrated case manager and the local welfare planner conduct a joint visit to provide in-depth counseling and personalized tailored services to the recipients.

Starting this year’s visits, a daily necessities package called the ‘Songpa Love Pack,’ which includes items such as towels and umbrellas, will be delivered along with promotional materials summarizing useful welfare benefits. This modest gift helps open the door to conversations about life’s difficulties and, furthermore, provides timely information and connects recipients to customized services to help restore stability in their lives with sincere support.

A district official shared, “About 800 households are newly selected as basic livelihood recipients each year. Many face complex issues beyond economic problems, including physical and mental health, housing, and legal matters, so careful attention is necessary,” reflecting on their frontline experience.

Last year, through the Hidden Hope Finding Project, the district conducted in-depth counseling for a total of 670 households and provided systematic case management to 51 crisis households with complex problems, offering tailored services according to each situation. This contributed to the proactive identification of crisis households and the elimination of welfare blind spots.

Meanwhile, starting this year, a ‘Welfare Benefits Immediate Notification Service’ will be implemented for newly registered basic livelihood recipients. This service sends text messages (SMS) informing them of benefit decisions and various discounts such as utility bill reductions. Compared to the previous postal notifications, this improvement provides faster and more accurate information on discounts, reducing economic burdens and enhancing convenience for residents.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “We will further expand outreach welfare services so that the increasing welfare budget each year translates into a greater sense of welfare among residents. During these difficult times, we will carefully ensure that warm hope reaches marginalized neighbors and that everyone can enjoy comprehensive welfare benefits.”

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