Financial Assistance faces a harrowing Budget tomorrow, with a $45 million cap likely — cutting it short of last year’s unprecedented $50 million.

But helping agencies across the Island see no end in sight to the rise in people who need support.

“Cutting it by $5 million is going to be crazy,” said Martha Dismont, the executive director of the social charity, Family Centre. “It’s going to create a huge challenge as we continue to lose jobs.”

Family Centre advocates “turning Financial Assistance on its ear”, with an emphasis on training, Mrs Dismont said. The group sends clients to seek Government aid but wants the programme to focus on getting recipients back to work instead of handing out money.

“An example would be giving businesses money to hire people or paying people to work,” Mrs Dismont said.

“We need people to get skilled up and trained. We’ve sent quite a few people to Financial Assistance and they’re getting help, but I am not comfortable. Some get reliant. We have to turn the system around.

“We are having a very tough time. There are many people in line behind those who have skills and who, the moment a job opens up, are first to get it.”

Without a recent upturn in construction jobs, “we would be in serious dire straits”, Mrs Dismont added.

Laurie Shiell, executive director of the Centre Against Abuse, said she agreed in principle with Government taking a realistic approach to Financial Assistance.

“It shouldn’t be for a lifetime — it’s there to assist you during a hard time,” she said.

“There are some cases with extenuating circumstances, such as health issues, but it should be specific to individual needs.” Ms Shiell acknowledged that “many more” people were visiting the Centre who were unemployed or had just been made redundant.

“Many times people come in here who are not actually on Financial Assistance, but require it. We may be the first to get them put on. Financial Assistance can then help them until they get a job.”

Major Frank Pittman, division commander of the Salvation Army, said cutbacks to assistance would mean “the people struggling are going to be struggling even more”.

Need is “definitely” rising, Maj Pittman said: there has been an increase in the number of food hampers given out by the organisation over this fiscal year, which ends on March 31.

“We’re seeing more people coming in on a regular basis for food,” he added.

The Salvation Army is struggling, he said, with cuts to its Government grant:

“To see cutbacks in our fundraising does concern me,” he said. “We have to start being a little more aggressive and come up with more ideas for fundraising. That said, most people recognise us as a key player in assisting the homeless — people believe in our mission.”

Maj Pittman said the charity’s work took some of the burden off Government.

“There are varied opinions out there,” he said. “Some people say it is Government’s responsibility to look after its citizens. Others would say that if my brother or sister were struggling financially or homeless, it would be my responsibility.

“If Government can’t do it, can we as the Salvation Army or as fellow Bermudians allow our brothers and sisters to be homeless? My answer would be no, we can’t.”

Charities “have to keep Government’s feet to the fire, but also fill in the gaps”, Maj Pittman said. “It is beholden on all of us who are able to step up to the plate and do something.”