Making a donation to the Salvation Army during the Red Shield Appeal this weekend has never been more important.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Salvation Army’s Territorial Communications and Fundraising Secretary, Major Bruce Harmer, said the key findings of a horrific new report paint a bleak picture of what real life is like for Australians on the breadline. Now in its fifth year, the Salvation Army’s Economic and Social Impact Survey (ESIS) surveyed more than 1600 clients across Australia.
“Too many regional Australians are hurting badly,” Major Harmer said. “It’s alarming. We need serious funding to develop innovative solutions to the complex issues of entrenched poverty.
“We cannot keep putting a band aid on disadvantage,” he said.
Lieutenant Penny Williams, Salvation Army Bathurst, said it was definitely harder to access services in regional areas.
She said Bathurst was lucky because other churches were also doing welfare work and giving assistance, but in smaller regional centres it was another story.
Lt Williams said, unfortunately, she has witnessed quite a lot of homelessness in Bathurst. In some cases they are transients passing through and getting stuck here.
“There are not many men’s accommodation services in Bathurst and mental health is a massive issue nationally,” she said.
Lt Williams said with food, electricity and accommodation costs going up and wages staying the same there was a cumulative effect.
“The Red Shield Appeal is important because more people are needing more help,” she said.
Lt Williams said the Salvation Army in Bathurst had received some amazing volunteer support for this weekend’s collection from the region’s schools, but not a lot of people have come forward from the community.
“We hope people feel this is a worthy cause and step up,” Lt Williams said.
The Salvation Army’s Economic and Social Impact Survey found that 68 per cent of clients living in private rental properties or paying off a mortgage experience extreme housing stress, using nearly two thirds of their disposable income on housing/accommodation.
Donate to the Red Shield doorknock by calling 13 SALVOS (137258), online at salvos.org.au
/donate, or in person at any Westpac branch or Salvos Store.
