Sderot plagued with welfare crisis
During Operation Cast Lead southern town's residents didn't have to worry about foreclosures, debt collection but recent state of calm changed matters. Ynet inquiry suggests number of applications to social services has risen considerably in last year
After a few months of relative calm Sderot residents are faced with growing welfare issues. "Sometimes I think, to hell with it - bring on the Qassams. It'll solve my problems with the bank and I'll get to keep the roof over my head," city resident A. told Ynet this week.
"Suddenly when it's calm and there are no more Qassams, they've threatened to take away my house. During the operation everyone was considerate."
A Ynet inquiry has revealed that parallel to the recent security calm, the city started facing a growing financial crisis. Since Operation Cast Lead ended last January the number of applications to social services has risen by over 40%.
Director of social services in the Sderot Municipality Yigal Levy pointed to an alarming phenomenon – banks, state agencies, and various commercial firms which have been lenient with residents during the Qassam days have reinforced efforts to collect debts from the residents.
During the Qassam days in Sderot (Photo: AP)
The problem doesn't apply to Sderot alone. Upon Ynet's request the Ministry of Social Affairs reviewed the number of new complaints in the southern frontline towns before and after Operation Cast Lead. The data indicate that in the last year there has been a 40% increase in new applications in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, a 33% increase in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, 50% in Netivot, and a 7% increase in the Eshkol Regional Council.
Social workers in Sderot are also facing a massive flow of residents of low socio-economic status from other cities which has virtually caused them to collapse. "Since Operation Cast Lead we need to address the residents' real problems, which have not surfaced before, but there are also returning residents and others who arrive from outside towns such as Yavne, Nazareth and Lod having heard of the welfare department's good care," Levy said.
'No one cares'
Over 4000 families are currently being treated by social services in Sderot. Out of all applications this year, 40% were new applications and some 20% of those were related to bank debts and foreclosure threats. The municipality finds itself unable to attend to all of the new problems as a result of a drop in grant funds.
"The number of applications has risen, but our ability to address them has dropped by 50%," Levy complained. "The government saved people from the Qassams, but now no one really cares."
Meanwhile A. feels virtually hopeless. "As long as the operation lasted no one approached me and I could live in peace, at least in that respect. My debt isn't that high, I'm trying to pay it off and still they threatened to evict me…I always felt that we were abandoned here, but now I feel it even more," he said.
