Newly vulnerable Aussies turning to the Salvos for help during COVID-19 pandemic – demand for emergency relief triples
With 8.6% of Victorian jobs already wiped out as a result of COVID-19*, now more than ever, people are turning to The Salvation Army for urgent help and the Salvos are bracing for a further influx once isolation measures are lifted.
The Salvos have remained committed to delivering emergency support to anyone who needs it during the pandemic, despite the need for extensive changes to the way they operate.
The call for help comes as The Salvos prepare for the annual Red Shield Appeal weekend (May 23 and 24) which supports personal hardship relief services across the country.
The Salvation Army ‘s Project 614, having switched to COVID safe practices, provides meals, clothing and counselling that includes creating pathways out of marginalisation.
The demand for emergency relief has tripled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The service that typically sees 30 people daily is now seeing more than 90 with the Salvos seeing people who have never asked for help before.
“We had to move fast, since the people we assist are in a high-risk category, so it truly was a matter of life or death. We immediately enforced social distancing in all our services and secured donations of essential safety supplies including masks and gloves,” says Major Brendan Nottle, Project 614 Manager.
“We had to close our dine-in café due social distancing but are still providing essential meals to our community members through our laneway window service – so people can still come to collect a takeaway meal.
“We’ve particularly seen more men coming to us for help, often with a mate, as they’re embarrassed and don’t really know how to ask for help. But we’re here for anyone who needs a hand up and we encourage people to contact us if they need support,” says Major Brendan Nottle.
The Salvos team has also been reaching out every couple of days to the 140 adults and children who are residents at their Magpie Nest homes, to check on their physical and mental wellbeing.
Magpie Nest is a partnership between the Collingwood Football Club and The Salvation Army that provides housing and health services for the homeless as well as support services for women and children family violence.
“We’re also taking meals to those who are in our emergency accommodation to ensure that they are okay and as a way of maintaining a connection, to prevent social isolation,” says Major Brendan Nottle.
“In addition, we’ve also worked hard to help get 216 homeless people off the streets and into hotel accommodation to help combat the spread of COVID-19.”
With State Treasury forecasting that the number of unemployed people in Victoria could more than double to 11% by the September quarter, The Salvation Army is bracing itself for ongoing increases in the number of people seeking help with financial problems, homelessness and domestic violence.
“We expect to see the number of people who require assistance increase even more once the Government’s JobKeeper and additional funds under JobSeeker conclude in the coming months,” says Major Brendan Nottle.
“Now, more than ever, we’re relying on the generosity of Australians to support our annual Red Shield Appeal, so we can help even more people in need during these unprecedented times.
“For the first time in its 55-year history, our traditional door-knock is running online this year, due to COVID-19,” he says.
To leave no one in need, please make a tax-deductible donation at salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58). The national target is $35 million by June 30.
The Salvation Army’s most recent annual report noted its social services provided more than 1 million sessions of care to Australians in need, helped 46,000 people experiencing homelessness, provided financial counselling to more than 65,000 and offered care to 13,000 people who were coping with family violence.**
“The Salvos have been around for 140 years, through two World Wars, the Depression, as well as natural disasters, including our most recent unprecedented bushfires across Australia, supporting the most vulnerable on the ground every step of the way,” says Brendan Nottle.
“COVID-19 has seen everyday Aussies face greater hardship than they have ever experienced before, impacting their physical, mental and financial health. We’re here to help – and we’re looking forward to the generous support of Australians through the Red Shield Appeal.
“We’re also hoping to see the continued generous support of the Victorian Government towards our life changing work and encourage it to dig even deeper this year in support of the Red Shield Appeal.”
