Winter chill to hit West Aussies harder as cost of living pressures intensify
Members, Volunteers and Staff across Vinnies WA's frontline services are seeing firsthand the growing impact of the cost-of-living crisis, as more West Australians reaching out for support than ever before.
Between January and April this year, Vinnies WA saw an 18 per cent jump in the volume of calls to its Emergency Relief call lines compared to the same period last year, many of whom are reaching out for help for the first time.
Food, clothing and living essentials, and fuel make up the most urgent requests for help, which reflects the difficult decisions many are being forced to make to simply survive.
This is a testament to the pressure being felt by thousands of WA families.
Some families are skipping meals to cover rent, mums and dads are going without essentials so their children can eat, older people are forgoing heating to pay for medications and those with jobs are struggling to keep up with rising costs.
Even more concerning are the findings from national research recently commissioned by the St Vincent de Paul Society, which paints a confronting picture of financial hardship unfolding across Australia.
More than half of Australians surveyed said they had reduced spending on essentials such as food, medication and bills simply to afford housing costs.
Nearly three in 10 said they did not have enough savings to cover an unexpected emergency expense, while one in five have less than $100 in savings.
For Vinnies WA CEO Ann Curran, these stark statistics reflect what staff and volunteers are hearing every day from people in crisis.
“What we’re hearing is how everyday West Australians are really struggling,” Ms Curran said.
“Just one sudden crisis can lead to homelessness – and it can happen to anyone.
“All it takes is losing your job, a health crisis, a family separation or a rent increase. And what’s even more concerning is that thousands of Australians are a pay slip away from losing their home.
“That’s why the Vinnies Winter Appeal is critical to ensure the support provided through the Emergency Relief program is accessible for people when they need it most.”
Donations provide practical and urgent assistance in the form of food, clothing, fuel and help to pay utility bills.
More importantly, funds raised through the appeal stay right here in Western Australia, helping local people in our local communities.
As the cold of winter sets in, Vinnies WA is calling on the community to stand alongside those doing it tough.
Your support can help provide food, stability and hope to West Australians in need.
Donate to Vinnies Winter Appeal today at www.vinnies.org.au/wa
“Just one sudden crisis can lead to homelessness – and it can happen to anyone.”