April 30th 2024.
According to a recent study, more than half of Australia's most vulnerable individuals have been forced to go without meals. Some have resorted to scavenging through dumpsters for food due to the inability to afford groceries. The survey, conducted by the Salvation Army, gathered responses from 1500 Australians who have utilized the charity's services in the past year. Shockingly, 63% of them reported skipping meals, while 45% had to make the difficult decision between paying for housing or buying food.
Salvation Army major Warren Elliott expressed his concern over these alarming statistics. He was particularly disturbed to learn that 1 in 20 respondents had to resort to eating food from rubbish bins. "To hear that one in 20 of our respondents are eating food that has been discarded, that's quite alarming," he said. "That came as a real shock to me."
This research comes at a time when the cost of living in Australia is becoming increasingly difficult for many. Over the past three years, grocery prices have risen by 33%, while rental prices have reached record highs. In fact, Domain's rental report released earlier this month shows a significant increase in rental prices across major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. It's no wonder that the demand for the Salvation Army's services has risen by 15% in the past year.
Elliott shared that the charity is often seeing families having to make tough choices due to financial strain. He also highlighted the increase in women and children seeking help after being impacted by violence. "A lot of them are working, so it's not necessarily the people on pensions," he explained. He also noted that older single women, who may have gone through a difficult life event such as a divorce or the loss of a partner, are also seeking assistance in large numbers.
One 33-year-old mother who participated in the survey shared her struggles of having to skip meals in order to provide for her children. She expressed the constant need to borrow money from friends in order to purchase essentials. "I'm having to go days without eating so my kids can eat, cancelling specialist appointments that are necessary for my health due to the high cost of living," she shared.
Another mother also shared her experience of having to borrow money in order to survive. She explained the stress of constantly being behind on rent payments and having to sacrifice her own well-being in order to provide for her children. "Each week I am behind," she said. "Some weeks I have not paid my rent so I can provide for my kids and their medical needs. It causes so much stress living on the edge."
In light of these difficulties faced by many Australians, the Salvation Army has launched their 60th Red Shield Appeal. Donations can be made online or by calling 13 SALVOS. Alternatively, donations can also be made at any Salvos Store. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a big difference in the lives of those in need.
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