Not everyone’s living situation makes it easy to isolate either. Throughout this phase of the Inquiry several examples were shared of people living with flatmates, or in supported living situations, having to then move in with whānau members during isolation to ensure their basic care needs were met. Submissions shared examples of community groups, non-governmental organisations, Māori providers, Pacific providers and disability providers making sure disabled people and their whānau had what they needed during periods of isolation: “We have always made it clear for the whānau we support that we will provide whatever they require to keep them safe in the first instance and to access information and support such as kai. Our whānau relied heavily on us to provide them with whatever they needed.” (Māori submission) “We have been told that some Māori providers have not been paid for their pandemic services and that they supported whānau in need with food packages because of the challenges faced with Pākehā services who were funded to do this.” (Māori submission) In contrast, government support for disabled people and their whānau has, according to many submissions, been limited. Although some talked about disabled people and their whānau feeling fairly well supported or having no problems while isolating, others were critical of the lack of support from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in particular: “Don’t rely on MSD, they let you down. We were promised access to food grants and other entitlements. Some get it, some don’t. Again, inconsistency, this time from Case Managers means some disabled receiving all they need while others are missing out completely. So it definitely hasn’t been working for some.” (Māori submission) Many submissions were especially concerned about the lack of disability support services during periods of isolation, in particular home-based care. This is further discussed in the following section on disability support services. Disrupted disability support services On 8 February 2022, a letter was sent from the Ministry of Health, ACC and all DHBs advising people that, if Omicron cases were to increase, there could be staff shortages and home and community support services would need to scale back temporarily. The letter gave no indication that appropriate contingency plans were in place. Many disabled people and their whānau were deeply unsettled by this news, which was viewed as reinforcing that disability support services are not a priority for government agencies or officials: “Sufficient time had passed for agencies to anticipate this situation, yet this communication indicated that the labour of care would fall on disabled people and their whānau, which was confusing and distressing for many who received it.” (Submission) 30 Inquiry into the Support of Disabled People and Whānau During Omicron