Working families are the new face of poverty, Salvation Army reveals


    By Neil Keene and Nathan Klein
    The Daily Telegraph
    May 16, 2012

    Survey reveals working families are struggling
    Breaks down stereotype of "homeless man"
    Almost half have dependent children

It's families who are the new working poor a survey reveals.

THE poverty epidemic is hurting everyday families who are pushed to the brink of ruin by the rising cost of living and a run of bad luck.   :(

A national survey of more than 1700 people seeking emergency assistance and support from The Salvation Army has revealed that of the million-plus people who are helped annually by the organisation, the vast majority do not fit the poor-man stereotype.

Almost half of those most in need had dependant children, 57 per cent were aged 26 to 45 and almost a third lived in private rental accommodation that was not public housing.

Just 5 per cent were homeless.

"These are employed mums and dads, people who have been made redundant - a very broad range of the community," Salvation Army spokesman Major Bruce Harmer said yesterday.

"They're completely in the corner and they have no resources upon which to draw when the price of living goes up or when tough times happen."   :(

Sydney mother-of-four Alison Pringle knows first hand what it is like to struggle just to cover the basics in life.

When her husband Martin suffered an injury and could no longer work three years ago, it became increasingly harder for them to survive.

"We couldn't pay the electricity and gas bills and found it difficult to pay rent at times. It felt like we didn't have enough money for dinner sometimes."

Mrs Pringle, who now volunteers for the Salvos, is not alone.

The survey found that more than half of those seeking assistance had gone without meals to help make ends meet, while almost 60 per cent had cut down on basic necessities like clothes, shoes, milk and bread. Almost half had sold or pawned possessions for extra cash.   :(

"While that provides temporary relief it's clear to anyone except a person in desperate circumstances that those funds will soon dry up as well," Major Harmer said.

Alarmingly, 94 per cent of people surveyed said they had no cash savings and almost 90 per cent could not afford house or car insurance.   :(

"A lot of people are really in deep trouble and they need all the support they can get to turn their lives around and break the cycle," he said.

The report was released ahead of the Salvos' annual Red Shield Appeal this weekend, when they hope to raise the $39 million needed to keep welfare services running for another 12 months.

"We desperately need the help of everyone in the community to help us help these people who are in such difficult circumstances," he said.


Comments on this story

    Trust Me of Melbourne Posted at 9:16 AM May 16, 2012

        Its the new hidden costs, the fines, the new taxes, the bank fees, the late fees on everything, the stuff that is not reported in the statistics. Two people work to live the way one income once supported a family!.    :(


    steve of Melb Posted at 9:14 AM May 16, 2012

        This is always going to happen when you have politicians and public servants who think that families on $80k are rich. God help those on the minimum wage because the pollies won't.    :(


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/money/cost-of-living/families-are-the-new-face-of-poverty/story-fnagkbpv-1226357266752#ixzz1vADgvkTv

This is why Europe have turned to the socialist leaders in an effort to get some equality back into the system. This is why the Occupy Wall Street Movement started.

This will be the decade of civil unrest and mass protesting across many Western nations. The gap between rich and poor must be decreased considerably.

And the people revolted!

You know. If the govt hadnt sold off all the things that made money eg transport post offices electricity and phone then we wouldn't have this problem because they would have an income.

Interesting everything is focused on "families" now though. There are a LOT of single ppl out there. Especially young ppl.

SOB

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 7:40am:

You know. If the govt hadnt sold off all the things that made money eg transport post offices electricity and phone then we wouldn't have this problem because they would have an income. Interesting everything is focused on "families" now though. There are a LOT of single ppl out there. Especially young ppl. SOB

The problem is immigration, the more people we bring in the less money to go round.
Migrants take low paying jobs so the wages never increase to entice Australian workers and at the same time we have inflation driving up the cost of living. And the hundreds of thousands we bring in every year its only going to get worse. And if your one that support immigration then you only have your self to blame.

BlOoDy RiPpEr wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 8:50am:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 7:40am: You know. If the govt hadnt sold off all the things that made money eg transport post offices electricity and phone then we wouldn't have this problem because they would have an income. Interesting everything is focused on "families" now though. There are a LOT of single ppl out there. Especially young ppl. SOB The problem is immigration, the more people we bring in the less money to go round. Migrants take low paying jobs so the wages never increase to entice Australian workers and at the same time we have inflation driving up the cost of living. And the hundreds of thousands we bring in every year its only going to get worse. And if your one that support immigration then you only have your self to blame.

I keep telling 'em that, but do you think they can put 2+2 together? 

putting 2 + 2 together a fine philosophy here. but not the solution to the problem.

fine idea WA

Imigration is not the problem, the attitude of Australians out there is the problem.

I will have my cake and eat it too, but I woun't allow you to have your cake to eat.

ok we are a generous country by alowing people from other countrys to come here to work and live.

why then can't our government arrange for our people to go and work in other countrys for a period of time.

that would seem fair to me since we Australia are the generous country. welcome

The problem has two faces. We certainly have much higher costs but we also have much higher expectations. Only a generation ago we went on camping holidays now we go to a resort and complain that the economy is in the gutter if we cannot afford it. We one had a small TV now we need to up date to the latest every 18 months. You used to buy a car and that was that for 10 years now we want it changes every three. We want far more than we can afford and 10 years of the rivers of gold wasted has not taught us a lesson. Now we are just angry and indignant that we can not have it all and have someone else pay for it. I see some very hard times coming for this country while we find reality a hard landing.

Obviously a oppinion of a wealthy AUSTRALIAN.

I would have loved to have seen these rivers of gold that supposidely gave up great properity.

There still there just not available to most Australians
eg boom in mining industry.

lets make the success available to all.

but then I suppose the government will continue to make it alright for Working familys DI with kids

but what are they doing for the rest of us

warrigal wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 8:02am:

Obviously a oppinion of a wealthy AUSTRALIAN. I would have loved to have seen these rivers of gold that supposidely gave up great properity. There still there just not available to most Australians eg boom in mining industry. lets make the success available to all. but then I suppose the government will continue to make it alright for Working familys DI with kids but what are they doing for the rest of us

AH another of the entitlement generation. Single got a job stop complaining and work hard, that is how we all got ahead.

sorry wrong
single but with no job.

where's my cake to eat.

julia g
working familys, education allowance etc, etc, etc


these's a saying Life is what you make it. well Life is also what other people out their allow you to make it too.

make it fair for all Australian Government

warrigal wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 8:18am:

sorry wrong single but with no job. where's my cake to eat. julia g working familys, education allowance etc, etc, etc these's a saying Life is what you make it. well Life is also what other people out their allow you to make it too. make it fair for all Australian Government

You just keep pushing that line to yourself. Do you think you are the only one ever to do it hard. Entitlement boy is your name. Give it to me, some one owes me a living. No one owes you anything and you need to go and find a job. Hell there is plenty of work if you want it you can even get your own business up until you find that amazing bludge job that pays you millions. Hell you could even study and improve your situation.

Just this morning it was pointed out that the Australian standard of living has actually risen over the past five years while the rest of the world went backwards. Funny how the winners are whinging about there good fortune. Selfish and arrogant, i fear for the mess when the times get hard for real. We have never had it better it's just we expect more and more.

nairbe wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 10:13am:

warrigal wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 8:18am: sorry wrong single but with no job. where's my cake to eat. julia g working familys, education allowance etc, etc, etc these's a saying Life is what you make it. well Life is also what other people out their allow you to make it too. make it fair for all Australian Government You just keep pushing that line to yourself. Do you think you are the only one ever to do it hard. Entitlement boy is your name. Give it to me, some one owes me a living. No one owes you anything and you need to go and find a job. Hell there is plenty of work if you want it you can even get your own business up until you find that amazing bludge job that pays you millions. Hell you could even study and improve your situation. Just this morning it was pointed out that the Australian standard of living has actually risen over the past five years while the rest of the world went backwards. Funny how the winners are whinging about there good fortune. Selfish and arrogant, i fear for the mess when the times get hard for real. We have never had it better it's just we expect more and more.

The "standard of living" may have risen for some but not everyone. Not ppl who are renting.

SOB

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 11:02am:

nairbe wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 10:13am: warrigal wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 8:18am: sorry wrong single but with no job. where's my cake to eat. julia g working familys, education allowance etc, etc, etc these's a saying Life is what you make it. well Life is also what other people out their allow you to make it too. make it fair for all Australian Government You just keep pushing that line to yourself. Do you think you are the only one ever to do it hard. Entitlement boy is your name. Give it to me, some one owes me a living. No one owes you anything and you need to go and find a job. Hell there is plenty of work if you want it you can even get your own business up until you find that amazing bludge job that pays you millions. Hell you could even study and improve your situation. Just this morning it was pointed out that the Australian standard of living has actually risen over the past five years while the rest of the world went backwards. Funny how the winners are whinging about there good fortune. Selfish and arrogant, i fear for the mess when the times get hard for real. We have never had it better it's just we expect more and more. The "standard of living" may have risen for some but not everyone. Not ppl who are renting. SOB

I don't get the issue, if rent is so high buy a house. House prices are the one area in our economy that have fallen and they are more affordable now than ever, or is it the usual problem. You don't want the house you can afford you want the one that fits your self image.

nairbe wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 11:13am:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 11:02am: nairbe wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 10:13am: warrigal wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 8:18am: sorry wrong single but with no job. where's my cake to eat. julia g working familys, education allowance etc, etc, etc these's a saying Life is what you make it. well Life is also what other people out their allow you to make it too. make it fair for all Australian Government You just keep pushing that line to yourself. Do you think you are the only one ever to do it hard. Entitlement boy is your name. Give it to me, some one owes me a living. No one owes you anything and you need to go and find a job. Hell there is plenty of work if you want it you can even get your own business up until you find that amazing bludge job that pays you millions. Hell you could even study and improve your situation. Just this morning it was pointed out that the Australian standard of living has actually risen over the past five years while the rest of the world went backwards. Funny how the winners are whinging about there good fortune. Selfish and arrogant, i fear for the mess when the times get hard for real. We have never had it better it's just we expect more and more. The "standard of living" may have risen for some but not everyone. Not ppl who are renting. SOB I don't get the issue, if rent is so high buy a house. House prices are the one area in our economy that have fallen and they are more affordable now than ever, or is it the usual problem. You don't want the house you can afford you want the one that fits your self image.

What a strange thing to say. Have you seen house prices in australia?

http://www.realestate.com.au/buy

SOB

nairbe wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 11:13am:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 11:02am: nairbe wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 10:13am: warrigal wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 8:18am: sorry wrong single but with no job. where's my cake to eat. julia g working familys, education allowance etc, etc, etc these's a saying Life is what you make it. well Life is also what other people out their allow you to make it too. make it fair for all Australian Government You just keep pushing that line to yourself. Do you think you are the only one ever to do it hard. Entitlement boy is your name. Give it to me, some one owes me a living. No one owes you anything and you need to go and find a job. Hell there is plenty of work if you want it you can even get your own business up until you find that amazing bludge job that pays you millions. Hell you could even study and improve your situation. Just this morning it was pointed out that the Australian standard of living has actually risen over the past five years while the rest of the world went backwards. Funny how the winners are whinging about there good fortune. Selfish and arrogant, i fear for the mess when the times get hard for real. We have never had it better it's just we expect more and more. The "standard of living" may have risen for some but not everyone. Not ppl who are renting. SOB I don't get the issue, if rent is so high buy a house. House prices are the one area in our economy that have fallen and they are more affordable now than ever, or is it the usual problem. You don't want the house you can afford you want the one that fits your self image.

rent is so high because house prices are high and property hoarders and speculators are offloading the risk onto the tenant !!

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 7:37am:

This is why Europe have turned to the socialist leaders in an effort to get some equality back into the system. This is why the Occupy Wall Street Movement started. This will be the decade of civil unrest and mass protesting across many Western nations. The gap between rich and poor must be decreased considerably. And the people revolted!

We are now seeing the fruits of all of this privitisation rubbish where stupid pollies think it's a great idea to sell off publicly owned assets to scam operators who end up screwing us to the wall !!

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 11:22am:

nairbe wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 11:13am: Sir Spot of Borg wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 11:02am: nairbe wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 10:13am: warrigal wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 8:18am: sorry wrong single but with no job. where's my cake to eat. julia g working familys, education allowance etc, etc, etc these's a saying Life is what you make it. well Life is also what other people out their allow you to make it too. make it fair for all Australian Government You just keep pushing that line to yourself. Do you think you are the only one ever to do it hard. Entitlement boy is your name. Give it to me, some one owes me a living. No one owes you anything and you need to go and find a job. Hell there is plenty of work if you want it you can even get your own business up until you find that amazing bludge job that pays you millions. Hell you could even study and improve your situation. Just this morning it was pointed out that the Australian standard of living has actually risen over the past five years while the rest of the world went backwards. Funny how the winners are whinging about there good fortune. Selfish and arrogant, i fear for the mess when the times get hard for real. We have never had it better it's just we expect more and more. The "standard of living" may have risen for some but not everyone. Not ppl who are renting. SOB I don't get the issue, if rent is so high buy a house. House prices are the one area in our economy that have fallen and they are more affordable now than ever, or is it the usual problem. You don't want the house you can afford you want the one that fits your self image. What a strange thing to say. Have you seen house prices in australia? http://www.realestate.com.au/buy SOB

Not my experience. Have moved towns in the last 18 months and selling was out of the question as prices are far too weak, buying was a winner though have picked up an absolute bargin and repayments are only 2/3 of the current rent. I will be miles ahead when the market improves and can sell the other place. I am in the country though but have not even a moments interest in city life.

nairbe wrote on May 20^th, 2012 at 3:07pm:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 11:22am: nairbe wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 11:13am: Sir Spot of Borg wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 11:02am: nairbe wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 10:13am: warrigal wrote on May 20th, 2012 at 8:18am: sorry wrong single but with no job. where's my cake to eat. julia g working familys, education allowance etc, etc, etc these's a saying Life is what you make it. well Life is also what other people out their allow you to make it too. make it fair for all Australian Government You just keep pushing that line to yourself. Do you think you are the only one ever to do it hard. Entitlement boy is your name. Give it to me, some one owes me a living. No one owes you anything and you need to go and find a job. Hell there is plenty of work if you want it you can even get your own business up until you find that amazing bludge job that pays you millions. Hell you could even study and improve your situation. Just this morning it was pointed out that the Australian standard of living has actually risen over the past five years while the rest of the world went backwards. Funny how the winners are whinging about there good fortune. Selfish and arrogant, i fear for the mess when the times get hard for real. We have never had it better it's just we expect more and more. The "standard of living" may have risen for some but not everyone. Not ppl who are renting. SOB I don't get the issue, if rent is so high buy a house. House prices are the one area in our economy that have fallen and they are more affordable now than ever, or is it the usual problem. You don't want the house you can afford you want the one that fits your self image. What a strange thing to say. Have you seen house prices in australia? http://www.realestate.com.au/buy SOB Not my experience. Have moved towns in the last 18 months and selling was out of the question as prices are far too weak, buying was a winner though have picked up an absolute bargin and repayments are only 2/3 of the current rent. I will be miles ahead when the market improves and can sell the other place. I am in the country though but have not even a moments interest in city life.

Well i have a house you can buy in the country. Its been for sale for almost 2 years and for what i bought it for. 1 person has looked @ it ever. Ever. 1 person. If it was the price ppl would @ least look and then reject it but nobody even looks. Also no way in this world or any other can I buy another house with the money from it if it were to sell.

Anyway my point was that house prices are so high that banks wont lend to ppl to buy them. Yeah big whoop they dropped what 1% last year or something. Whoopiedoo. They are still too high.

SOB

which basically means (TOPIC)Working Families Are The New Face Of Poverty.

but hay, if your a WORKING family we will look after you, if your not, if your a single person, your on your own, untill you become a Pensioner or female person. in society.

As quoted
rent is so high because house prices are high and property hoarders and speculators are offloading the risk onto the tenant !!

BUT the Australian Government will still help the Land Lord out with a financial handout, because there a Working Australian and most likly a working Australian family

As Quoted.
You just keep pushing that line to yourself. Do you think you are the only one ever to do it hard. Entitlement boy is your name. Give it to me, some one owes me a living. No one owes you anything and you need to go and find a job. Hell there is plenty of work if you want it you can even get your own business up until you find that amazing bludge job that pays you millions. Hell you could even study and improve your situation.

Well if there are jobs going out, why is it that 5 JOB networks in my city refuse to help me and refuse to beleive what my qualification and skills are.

give me a answer to that smartarse

True native Ausies are the new face of poverty -  go on ask the Corporate Maggot, the Green, The ALP & the Lib what they did to us and now they are trying to hide and assimilate us in there new Australia and pretend we don't exist.

Ask the maggot why he wants to ban our culture - ban us from marking ANZAC day and ban us from making and wearing sheepskin boots - go on ask the filthy SOB.

Ask the Maggot why they want to push Abortion and Euthanasia on native Australian people.

warrigal wrote on May 21^st, 2012 at 7:17am:

As quoted rent is so high because house prices are high and property hoarders and speculators are offloading the risk onto the tenant !! BUT the Australian Government will still help the Land Lord out with a financial handout, because there a Working Australian and most likly a working Australian family

Oh? Where can I get this handout?

SOB

It's refreshing to read someone like nairbie with such a simple approach to life.

If you don't have a job, go and get one. If you can't afford rent, buy a house. WTF, buy two houses....buy a whole street!

If you have a fatal disease, get a cure. If you are depressed, get happy!

The mind boggles....... :o

Quote:

Economists are increasingly worried that many young Americans will spend coming years buried under student debt. Joe Mihalic was determined not to be one of them. Faced with $90,000 in student debt from his days at Harvard Business School, Mihalic vowed last August to eliminate every penny by this summer. He did — three months early. The 29-year-old from Austin, Texas, is now becoming an Internet celebrity of sorts as financial advisers and young Americans link to his blog, NoMoreHarvardDebt.com, which had 180,000 hits as of Thursday morning. His story is touching a nerve at a time when young Americans are more indebted than ever.

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2012/05/17/wiping-out-90000-in-student-loans-in-7-months/

http://nomoreharvarddebt.com/

Throwing your hands up and saying "it's not fair" won't get you anywhere.  Maybe have a read of this guy for an example of just how much "essential" poo you waste your limited money on is even necessary.