As the cost of everything goes up, except her income, Anna faces an uphill battle that she can never get ahead of each week.

Raising two children as a single mother receiving a disability support pension, the struggle to stay on top of her rent, household bills, groceries and unexpected expenses on an income below the poverty line led Anna to reach out to the St Vincent de Paul Society for support.

Hoping to gain assistance to purchase a school uniform for her son, Anna received much more when she met Grace, an employee at one of the Society’s support centres located throughout the state.

Receiving immediate assistance with a school uniform, food vouchers and groceries, Anna felt seen, heard, and treated with dignity at her most vulnerable time of reaching out.

For Grace, who has spent the past 15 years supporting people in need as part of the Society, stories like Anna’s are becoming commonplace and occurring across all walks of life.

“It’s not just one group of people that are doing it tough – we’re talking about age pensioners and older people and single mums and families and single men and older single women – it is everyone,” explains Grace. “It is everyone coming at us from all angles for all different reasons.”

For as difficult as the current moment is – and will continue to be in the lead up to Christmas and beyond – she finds comfort in knowing that the Society has the ability to provide support.

This Christmas, more families are experiencing poverty and are on the brink of homelessness. After struggling with the escalating cost-of-living crisis, they barely have anything left to hold onto. As the crisis deepens, so does their desperation.

“When people make the connection with Vinnies, they realise that we’re not just there for the immediate problem. With Anna, we were able to do so much more and lighten the load for her in more ways than one.

“We’re there for the long term … we look at the bigger picture so that we can make a real difference.”

As cost-of-living pressures continue to mount, Anna has remained in contact with the St Vincent de Paul Society where she has received support with food and housing expenses from our employees, who work alongside a network of dedicated members giving their time to support the most vulnerable in local communities.

For all the material support Anna has received since reaching out to us, the greatest comfort has been the reassurance to know that she won’t be alone during hard times.

“I know that I will never have to reach rock-bottom again. I know Vinnies will be there for me.”