Labor stripped funding for a crisis directory used millions of times. Now these charities are fighting back

A vital service used millions of times by vulnerable Australians seeking food, housing and other emergency assistance faces an uncertain future after the Albanese government pulled its funding, prompting a campaign by the nation’s biggest social service organisations for the money to be restored.

Twenty-four organisations including Mission Australia, Foodbank, OzHarvest, St Vincent de Paul, The Smith Family and UnitingCare Australia have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese demanding the restoration of $2 million a year for Ask Izzy – an online database that connects people in crisis or need with local support services.

Funding for the digital directory was axed in May’s budget, ending on June 30, without a clear explanation from the government, despite the service recording its highest number of searches in its 10-year history in the past financial year.

Ask Izzy recorded 9.1 million searches, up about 7 per cent on the previous year, with significant increases in searches for meals, emergency accommodation, mental health, family violence and other essential services.

The service, operated by not-for-profit Infoxchange, contains more than 500,000 listings and connects people with charities and community services across Australia. It uses device GPS or postcodes to connect people in need with nearby emergency resources displaying real-time operating hours, contact information and precise distances.

Infoxchange chief executive David Spriggs said the government had helped establish Ask Izzy and should continue to contribute to its operation.

He said the directory’s real-time service updates rely heavily on back-end maintenance, meaning without funding, critical crisis information will soon be out of date as demand for housing and food support surges.

“If Ask Izzy degrades, women and children fleeing domestic violence, parents struggling to feed their children and young people sleeping rough could lose one of the best ways they have to find help.”

The social services sector has become increasingly alarmed about the decision, fearing it could be the first of a series of funding cuts to services used by Australians struggling with the cost of living.

Community organisations report continuing demand for emergency food, housing and other support as household budgets come under pressure.

OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn said Ask Izzy was an important way for people to find assistance.

“Times have become so hard that food relief is now one of the most sought-after social services in this country. And how do people find food services when they need it most? Through Ask Izzy,” Kahn said.

“Without Ask Izzy, people will lose one of the best ways they have to find food and other services in their area, and they will lose hope. The government must find a funding solution and quickly.”

The coalition includes national charities, social service providers and peak bodies, including Kids Helpline, Life Without Barriers, Justice Connect, Financial Counselling Australia, RSL NSW and SecondBite. They are seeking $6 million over three years to allow Infoxchange to maintain the directory and update its listings.

The groups will lobby MPs and ministers when parliament sits next week, arguing Ask Izzy should be treated as essential national social services infrastructure. A source within the public service, not authorised to speak publicly, said the decision to cut funding was made by Services Australia, formerly the Department of Human Services.

UnitingCare Australia national director Tamara Thomas said families were being pushed into increasingly difficult circumstances.

“Families are skipping meals to afford fuel to get their children to school, while older people are living in cars because they can’t find affordable housing,” she said.

ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie said demand for social services had continued to increase since the COVID pandemic, while family violence survivor and community advocate Vicky Vacondios said Ask Izzy could provide a critical first connection for people in crisis.

“Walking away from it now, when more people need it than ever, makes no sense. The government should restore this funding,” Vacondios said.

A spokeswoman for Services Australia confirmed its funding agreement ended on June 30 and said customers could access support through a range of service and referral pathways – including Service Finder on its website – “without the agency needing to incur additional licensing or subscription costs”.

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