Charities across the western suburbs will share in $1.6 million in federal government funding to help them provide emergency food relief.
The funding announced last week is part of the $14.4 million Emergency Relief and Food Relief package delivered nationally to providers of essential items, such as vouchers, food, and clothing.
The charities in Melbourne’s west to receive funding are Sacred Heart Mission, Australian Multicultural Community Services, Community Information & Support Victoria, The Salvation Army, Uniting , Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Co-operative, CatholicCare and Anglicare.
Anglicare Victoria’s Emergency Relief Services Coordinator for the western suburbs, Suzanne Keil, said the funding was a welcome response to the increase in families and working Victorians who were reaching out to the agency for help.
“We know families in the west are feeling the crunch as the cost of everything rises, with our metro emergency relief programs seeing a 40 per cent jump in new families and individuals asking for our help,” Ms Keil said.
“A lot of these families, about 70 per cent, are private renters coming to Anglicare Victoria for help after a year of frequent increases and high rents. Many people we see can’t afford their rent, but they can’t afford to move, so in desperation they find themselves depending on Emergency Relief support to survive. “About one in every three people we’re seeing have energy bills they can’t pay or are falling behind on payment plans because they can’t cover rising energy costs. One family said the other day they just don’t turn on their air conditioner anymore. We’ve had some absolutely sweltering days in the west this summer, but the stress of what it would cost them to run the aircon was too overwhelming.”
Anglicare, like the other charities receiving funding, operates throughout the western suburbs, including in Wyndham, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong.
Susan Keil said anyone in those municipalities who was struggling to put food on the table and make ends meet, should get in touch.
“We can connect you with all kinds of support, from that emergency relief to financial counselling, mental health and more. We’re here to help.”
Cade Lucas.
