St Vincent de Paul Society Australia genetic logo

Donate

An image of the Vinnies good works logo in a blue colour.

Our Services

Emergency Assistance and Support

National Debt Helpline

Financial Counselling

Financial Coaching

Housing Plus

Homelessness Services

Passages Youth Engagement hub

Vinnies Tom Fisher House

Wandjoo Bidi

Case for Support - Youth Homelessness

Mental Health Services

Find help

Volunteering in WA

Become a Member in WA

Fundraise for Vinnies in WA

Partner with Vinnies in WA

Youth and Schools in WA

Bequests in WA

Donate Goods in WA

Events in WA

Careers in WA

Get involved

<h1>Vinnies Shops</h1>
Find our latest promotion and information about our WA shops.
Everything you buy or donate inspires change in your local community.

Vinnies WA Shops

Shops

Let's Build a Fairer Australia

Low income support

Housing and homelessness

Indigenous Australians

Refugees and migrants

Children and education

Energy

Advocacy

Our structure WA

Our history WA

WA strategic plan

Mission and vision WA

Publications WA

Policies WA

WA contacts

About us

Newsroom

WA news

Latest appeal for WA

Videos WA

Media enquiries for WA

| Vinnies

Home

ACT & surrounds

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

National Council

SVdP Housing Australia

New data from Vinnies WA released during Anti-Poverty Week has revealed that from July to September, the charity provided emergency assistance to 4,715 WA households, including 6,600 children.

Thousands of children receive Vinnies emergency assistance in 3 months alone

New data from Vinnies WA released during Anti-Poverty Week has revealed that from July to September, the charity provided emergency assistance to 4,715 WA households, including 6,600 children.

Vinnies WA: Thousands of children receive Vinnies emergency assistance in 3 months alone

Among the most common types of assistance provided were food and clothing, furniture and bedding, help with utility bills, and transport such as fuel and smart riders.
This year’s <a href="https://antipovertyweek.org.au/">Anti-Poverty Week</a> (16-22 October) is urging Parliamentarians across Australia to legislate to half child poverty by 2030.
“The number of children who are experiencing poverty and disadvantage is alarming,” said Vinnies CEO Susan Rooney.
“In a state as wealthy as Western Australia, it is simply unacceptable that children have to grow up without access to the most basic necessities like food, clothing and a safe, stable home,” she added.
Rising interest rates and rents as well as a lack of affordable housing are placing unprecedented pressure on WA families.
Vinnies financial counsellors are reporting that WA families have been forced to decide whether they can keep a roof over their head, put fuel in the car, attend medical appointments or buy food.
Vinnies is calling on the Federal Government to:
<ul>
<li>Raise the rate of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and other income support payments permanently and to a level that ensures people can cover their basic living needs, including housing.</li>
<li>Increase the rate of the Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment by 50 per cent for low income households who are privately renting and expand the eligibility criteria.</li>
<li>Develop the promised National Housing and Homelessness Plan as a matter of urgency and fund it appropriately. This plan must include a specialised youth homelessness framework and fund approaches and services that are consistent with the best available evidence and practice to prevent and end youth homelessness.</li>
</ul>
Ms Rooney is also urging the State Government to support WA renters.
“In these challenging times, if the State Government were to introduce a rental subsidy, it would make a very real difference to vulnerable West Australian families experiencing rental stress, and stop them from sliding into homelessness,” she said.

Rich Text

A photo of Chief Executive Officer Susan Rooney and State President David Kennedy sitting besides each other at a table and signing documents. They are both looking down at their own paper.

Image

<h3>More Vinnies News</h3>
<a href="/wa/newsroom/news" title="News" class="primary-button-blue">Back to News</a>

Spacer