Poverty: Cost of living increase forces more people to seek communal support

A Jewish charity reports a 25% increase over the past year in requests for help with living expenses. PAULA TOWERS talks to those in need and those trying to help.

Recent cost-of-living increases are forcing members of Melbourne's Jewish community to ask for help for the first time.

Melbourne Jewish Charity Fund (MJCF) CEO Yoni Paluch told The Jewish Independent the organisation has seen a sharp rise in demand for its services.

 “We’re getting a lot of people come to us who previously wouldn’t have needed any support where, for example, an unexpected medical bill comes in or their child might need dentistry work or therapy; unfortunately, that’s the situation that a lot of people are finding themselves in right now.

“It’s causing those who’ve never before had to reach out for support, to reach out to us, as well as taking a toll on those regularly receiving welfare.”

In the past 12 months, there’s been a notable jump in requests for assistance. “Just in medical bills, for example, we’ve seen an increase of 23%,” Paluch said. “In general living expenses, an increase of 26%, and greater than a 10% increase in accommodation expense support requests.”

The cost-of-living increases have also impacted the capacity of donors to give. MJCF is entirely dependent on private donations, mostly from individuals or charitable foundations.  But the charity is seeing a lot of the donations decrease while the demand increases.

“The key point is clearly that the Jewish community is definitely not immune from any of the cost-of-living pressures and we’re really seeing it everywhere.”

More than half MJCF clients are single mothers, often escaping domestic violence. “They leave with basically nothing but the clothes on their back and they’ve got significant issues with how they’re going to afford rent or food or clothes for the kids,” Paluch said.

“We partner with other welfare organisations, so we will help support them with rents and vouchers – we’re giving out about $30,000 every month now in Coles vouchers and there have been 198 families so far this financial year who have been recipients.”