From Tuesday, all residents requiring emergency support will need to contact Horsham-based Wimmera Uniting Care.

Wimmera Uniting Care is one of five agencies that will provide emergency relief to north-west Victoria.

Currently, there are 16 providers, including councils and health groups in regional areas.

Yarriambiack community services manager Gavin Blinman said the department had provided funding for council’s emergency relief service for about 10 years.

He said council had worked with Rural Northwest Health and Dunmunkle Health Service to provide social workers as required throughout the shire.

The department has extended council’s emergency relief funding until June, but then Wimmera Uniting Care will be the sole provider.

"In the past 12 months our budget went from $23,000 down to $12,600 and we have reduced the number of clients needing support,’’ Mr Blinman said.

"We will now await Wimmera Uniting Care guidelines on the ER support so we can refer clients directly to them.’’

Cr Ray Kingston said council had been forced out as the emergency relief provider.

He hoped council could monitor the new system.

"They might have challenges delivering to Hopetoun but how would we even know?’’ he said.

Mr Blinman said council already worked with Wimmera Uniting Care to provide financial counselling to those who needed it.

But he said there was no detail about how the new structure would work.

"There are five new providers doing it and there’s no information on how they’re doing it,’’ he said.

Mr Blinman said Yarriambiack Shire Council regularly worked with 18 people, plus several others on a one-off basis.

The majority of the emergency relief provided is through food vouchers.

"We have arrangements with supermarkets and shops so people don’t have to travel,’’ Mr Blinman said.

Council also helps people get to medical appointments and provides bill assistance.

But Mr Blinman said the department had not shared details about if the new agencies could provide these services.

Mr Blinman said face-to-face interaction was sometimes required to assess a situation.

"The food is just a cry for help,’’ he said.

Mr Blinman said he was unsure whether potential clients would need to visit Wimmera Uniting Care for help.

"If they’re coming in for a food voucher they can’t afford to drive from the northern end of our shire to Horsham,’’ he said.

Cr Terry Grange said Wimmera Uniting Care would not have the same connections as council.

"It’s another service being taken away that our community needs,’’ he said.