MORE needy families affected by the economic recession have turned to the Community Development Councils (CDCs) for help.

'Low-income families approaching the CDCs have increased by about 40 per cent,' said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday.

He also said the number of unemployed residents going to the CDCs for help with jobs has 'almost doubled'.

PM Lee was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for five mayors held at the People's Association Auditorium.

The mayors sworn in include Mr Matthias Yao, Mr Teo Ho Pin, Ms Amy Khor and Mr Zainudin Nordin who were reappointed, while Mr Teo Ser Luck was welcomed as the new mayor of the North East district.

PM Lee added that people are able to receive innovative and effective packages that offer targeted help at the CDCs.

'The first step is often to help workers get through the initial shock of retrenchment,' he said, citing the South West CDC's interim coping package for economic downturn as an example.

It provides needy retrenched workers with immediate support through transport grants and food vouchers while they look for new jobs.

Besides employment help, residents are also taught to help themselves by the CDCs.

One such initiative highlighted by PM Lee include intensive budget workshops that teach poor families to reduce their arrears, get out of debt and manage on a limited income.

He revealed that more than 600 low-income families have gone through these workshops since 2007, and that typically six in 10 families are able to reduce their monthly expenses after the course.

PM Lee also noted that the CDCs have developed similar programmes with a wider reach, pointing to the Central Singapore CDC's 'Survival Guide' for households and the South East CDC MoneyWise carnivals as examples.

'Through these programmes, residents learn to save on expenses and be self-reliant during the downturn,' he said.

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