Hanoi’s fund for the poor raised VND55 billion during an arts performance programme on October 7.

Addressing the event, Chairman of the Hanoi chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee Dao Van Binh said many businesses have contributed to the fund despite the economic downturn.

In 2011, the fund and other social welfare programmes raised more than VND200 billion, helping repair and upgrade almost 4,700 houses and offering low-interest loans to 14,000 households and individuals.

The city now still sees as many as 113,000 families that need assistance to escape poverty, Binh added.

In order to reach the target of reducing the poverty rate among households to below 2 percent by 2015, the municipal authority is calling organisations, enterprises and individuals to continue supporting the fund in the coming time.