Cade Lucas
The latest interest rate rise is already being felt in Wyndham.
“They’re all talking about the interest rate hikes, it’s too hard for them” said Christine Mackeness of people getting free food at the Wyndham Park Community Centre in Werribee.
“People say it’s a decision between paying the bills or putting food on the table.”
As the food store coordinator at Wyndham Park, Ms Mackeness has seen the number of people in this situation explode over the past 18 months, as inflation and interest rate rises used to combat it, have combined to smash household budgets.
“When we first started three years ago it was 45 families per week, but now we’re seeing 170 families every week.
“We start at 9.30am and people start queuing from 7.30-8am, it goes around the block,” she said.
It’s an issue across the country, but the situation in Wyndham is acute.
Data from the Australian Urban Observatory at RMIT shows Wyndham has more than 43,000 mortgage holders, among the highest in the country.
Tuesday’s decision to lift rates to 4.10 per cent, the 12th rise in 13 months, has tipped more of them over the edge.
“We’re seeing more what we would perceive as stable families that wouldn’t normally be seeking help” said Ms Mackeness of how rate rises are slowly changing the face of poverty.
It’s an observation backed by larger relief services operating in Wyndham such as the Salvation Army and Uniting.
“We regularly have people reaching out who have never needed our help before.
These are often people who have jobs, but they’re now battling every day just to keep their heads above water,” said CEO of Uniting Victoria and Tasmania Bronwyn Pike.
She said they were struggling to keep up with demand.
“Our homeless entry points are running at double their capacity and we’re even having to turn some people away because we simply don’t have the capacity or resources to provide immediate help on that day.”
Christine Mackeness concurred, saying the price of food had forced them to cut back.
“What we’re offering each week is a little less.”
When asked if the solution was more government funding or more donations, her answer was emphatic: “Yes and yes”.
Food can be donated at Wyndham Park Community Centre, Monday to Friday 55-57 Kookaburra Avenue.
Email: admin@wyndhamparkcc.com.au.
