By Alesha Capone
THOUSANDS of families in the West are struggling to pay bills and meet living costs, as unemployment rises.
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the unemployment rate in Victoria rose to five per cent between December 2010 and December last year.
Melbourne’s outer West – including the municipalities of Wyndham, Brimbank, Melton, Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay – recorded the highest rise in unemployment.
There were 6800 more jobseekers registered in the West at December 2011, compared to the previous 12 months.
Wyndham City Salvation Army operations manager Terry Brookshaw said the charity has been struggling to meet demand “which is a sign people are struggling”.
His sister-in-law, Sue Brookshaw, is the organisation’s community support services manager.
Mrs Brookshaw said comparing December 2010, to the same period last year, showed there were more people seeking help.
“In 2011 we gave out just under $75,000 more than we gave out in 2010,” she said.
This assistance includes giving disadvantaged people food vouchers, food parcels, assistance with bills and back-to-school costs for children.
Mrs Brookshaw said in 2010, the Wyndham City Salvation Army assisted 2182 people, compared to 2537 last year.
“Not everybody has somewhere to live, who come to see us – there are lots of people who are homeless or who live in their car, or are going from situation to situation, from couch to couch,” she said.
Mrs Brookshaw said occasionally she encountered single mothers living in a car with their child.
She said the Wyndham City Salvation Army workers were accustomed to meeting people in tough circumstances, but in the past few weeks, clients have seemed to be facing even more demanding situations than usual.
“You really try, but in the last couple of weeks, people have been coming in, saying they are so desperate and just saying they don’t think they can go on and life isn’t worth the struggle anymore, that is sort of hard for us,” she said.
“But the important thing is we talk to them and put a smile on their faces before they leave, and they come back a few days or weeks later and we can check on how they’re going.”
To donate to the Wyndham City Salvation Army, contact 9741 7359.
