More than two-thirds of Australians are worried that festive season expenses will put a strain on their finances and nearly three in five are concerned about being able to afford food and essentials, new St Vincent de Paul Society NSW research reveals.
Conducted by YouGov for the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, the research also showed that 62 per cent of Australians feel stressed about being able to buy gifts for family and friends.
With Christmas just weeks away, the annual Vinnies Christmas Appeal is calling on the community to help address the ongoing hardship felt across Australia.
Close to 100,000 people were supported by the charity over the past year, increasing by 14 per cent from the previous 12 months. A third of all people reaching out for support did so for the first time over the past year.
“The Vinnies Christmas Appeal plays a critical role in ensuring our members and services are able to meet the need for assistance present in the community at a time when inequality is growing,” St Vincent de Paul Society NSW chief executive Yolanda Saiz said.
“People are experiencing real economic pain. Every time they go to the supermarket, they see what they can put in their shopping basket get smaller, while at the same time prices are continually rising.
“The amount of financial and material assistance our members provide to households has risen to $330 on average, increasing by $100 since the start of the decade.
“This is a concern for society as a whole and I worry that as bleak as the cost of living crisis has been in recent years, we may not have hit rock bottom yet,” said Ms Saiz.
Funds raised from the Vinnies Christmas Appeal will enable the society’s members to distribute vital assistance through food, clothing, household expenses, accommodation and much more.
Details: Vinnies Christmas Appeal visit www.vinnies.org.au.
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Vinnies Christmas Appeal to alleviate cost of living hardship (St Vincent de Paul Society NSW)
