Suwon New Light Care Project to Expand to All 44 Neighborhoods Starting January 2024

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special City announced on the 28th that it will expand the 'Suwon New Light Care Project,' which had been piloted in eight neighborhoods since July 1, to all 44 neighborhoods starting January 1 next year, to provide care services to all citizens in need of care.

Suwon New Light Care is a 'Suwon-style integrated care project' centered on community residents that discovers neighbors in need of care and provides them with essential care services. Residents well-informed about community conditions, including members of neighborhood community councils, serve as 'New Light Care Workers,' discovering households in crisis, identifying and connecting local welfare resources, and providing care services.

Suwon New Light Care provides four major care services: △home care assistance, △accompaniment support, △psychological counseling, and △temporary protection. Anyone can use the services regardless of income, assets, or age. For households with an income at or below 75% of the median income, the neighborhood care planner visits the home, and if care is deemed necessary, provides 1 million won in annual care points per person to cover care service costs. Households exceeding 75% of the median income can use care services at their own expense.

In October, a proposal was registered on the mobile civic participation platform 'New Light Talk Talk' requesting that 'Suwon New Light Care services be provided in neighborhoods not designated as pilot areas.' Suwon City conducted a survey of citizens through New Light Talk Talk. Of the 6,670 people who participated in the voting, 91.3% (6,093 people) supported 'expansion to all neighborhoods.'

The city reflected citizens' opinions and made efforts to expand the budget and establish ordinances. With active cooperation from the Suwon City Council, the Suwon New Light Care Project has been expanded to all neighborhoods.

Suwon New Light Care services can be requested by phone or in-person at the neighborhood administrative welfare center's care window or through the mobile civic participation platform 'New Light Talk Talk.'

Meanwhile, on the 27th, the city held a '2023 Community Contribution Awards Ceremony' in the city hall auditorium and presented commendations to organizations and citizens with distinguished service, as well as outstanding members and organizations of community councils.

Suwon Mayor's Commendations were awarded to a total of 55 individuals, organizations, and companies, including: outstanding contributions to city and neighborhood community councils, six neighborhoods rated as excellent in 'neighborhood council operation evaluation,' fourteen neighborhoods rated as excellent in the '2023 Comprehensive Evaluation of Community Health and Welfare Services,' individuals and organizations with distinguished service in integrated case management activation, and individuals, companies, and organizations with distinguished service in activating 'Love Sharing Suwon' and spreading a culture of sharing.

Additionally, commendations from the Suwon Special City Council Chairman were presented to seven individuals and organizations with distinguished contributions to community development.

Twelve outstanding committee members of the city council and twelve neighborhoods rated as excellent in 'Council Life Four-Cut' (city-district-neighborhood connection sharing meetings) received commendations from the private council chairperson. Appreciation plaques from the private chairperson were also presented to individuals (two people) and organizations (two organizations) with distinguished service in network activation.

At the awards ceremony, Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "The 'Suwon New Light Care' that has been piloted in eight neighborhoods since July will expand to all 44 neighborhoods starting next January, and I hope community council members will join us," and added, "If council members and citizens provide support, the New Light Care Project will be able to adequately fill welfare blind spots."

The Suwon Community Council, celebrating its 18th anniversary this year, consists of a representative council, executive council, neighborhood councils, and working subcommittees. A total of 198 people are active in twelve working subcommittees and 911 people are active in the 44 neighborhood councils.