Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre has helped hundreds of people since the bushfires, handing out everything from clothing, to advice, to cups of tea, or just much-needed hugs.
So it was with some dismay that the staff and volunteers learnt last week that their application for grants under the bushfire recovery program had been only partly successful. While they received funds for a re-greening project and a small grant to help home businesses affected by the fires, they missed out on what they needed most: funding for a new staff member.
Chairwoman of the centre's management committee, Kim Cowper, said existing staff were so stretched they would struggle to take on any further work. At the same time, the community still needed it.
"We've got people who were retired and face starting again in their 70s - they can't believe they're back on struggle street. We've got single mums, widows, so many people still needing help," she said.
One of those is Miranda Hansen, a widow in her late 60s who lost everything in Buena Vista Road.
"From day one I came in, they gave me hugs, they gave me necessities, things like bras and undies. They gave me basically everything I needed," she said.
"When I didn't have enough money for tyres to register my car, they organised a no-interest loan for me. I can't remember them all, they did so many things for me."
Susan Templeman, Labor candidate for Macquarie, who lost her Emma Parade home in the fires, has also been a regular visitor to the centre.
"I know firsthand the extraordinary lengths the team have been going to, without extra worker funding, for nearly a year. The decision not to fund an additional project officer is a real kick in the guts for the neighbourhood centre and for Winmalee residents," she said.
The centre also lost promised funds to restore a disabled access ramp after the change in federal government in 2013. Ms Cowper said the double blow - missing out on the grant they wanted and losing the ramp money - had left the centre "feeling a little bit unloved and unsupported".
There was $704,000 handed out in the joint state-federal grants to both business and community groups. The biggest recipient was the Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise, which received $105,000 to run a conference and expo on building in bushfire prone areas, and a further $80,000 to develop the Mountains as a quality food destination.
Other grants went to Catholiccare Social Services at Parramatta, with $39,000 for a bushfire financial support worker, $50,000 to council to develop a Yellow Rock community space, $33,000 to Springwood Neighbourhood Centre to fund community art-based programs, and $50,000 to Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre to work with locals and particularly the Mt Victoria community which was affected by the fires.
The Winmalee centre received $27,273 for a re-greening project, where the community will help propagate and look after plants until bushfire-affected residents are ready to re-plant their gardens, and $7,710 to help the large number of people who run home businesses and were affected by the fires.
Applications are now open for a second round of grants. Blue Mountains MP Roza Sage said she would encourage the centre to apply again.