‘It’s a social crisis’: Salvos chief warns of worse to come on Queensland’s breadline
The leader of the Salvation Army in Queensland says the need for his organisation’s help has never been greater as battle plans are drawn to fatten the war chest in the fight against poverty.
The Salvation Army's Gavin Watts will be appealing for more support in the face of what he calls a major social crisis in Queensland. (Image: Supplied)
This time next week Queensland’s divisional commander of the Salvation Army, Gavin Watts, will be preparing to front a major breakfast in Brisbane where the ambition will be to raise $600,000.
While it’s a hefty target to hit first up, the amount represents a fraction of the $5.5 million the Salvos hope to raise across Queensland during their body’s annual national Red Shield Appeal from May 20-21.
With interest rates on the rise, cost pressures up and housing shortages unresolved, Watts has told InQueensland ahead of the appeal’s State launch on May 12 that he has never seen conditions so bad.
“It is without doubt a social crisis and it’s alarming,” he said.
“And what makes it sadder is that we’re helping people who have never needed to call on us before.
“Even people who are in jobs are struggling to make ends meet, going without meals, skipping their medications and leaving the lights off – doing anything they can to stay above the breadline.”
Watts said the Salvos had helped 3500 homeless people in the last 12 months, “considerably higher” than numbers previously supported through the organisation’s outreach services.
“The number of people sleeping in their cars is just mind boggling and we’re worried that it’s only going to get worse,” he said.
But Watts and his colleagues are not without hope.
“We don’t want anybody in Queensland to struggle alone – times are tough, but we can get through it together, with the community’s support,” said the organisation’s Queensland public relations secretary, Simon Gregory.
“Queenslanders are known for being generous and supportive, and we know this year will be no different. We urge everyone to do their bit to help their neighbour, and their community.”
Now in its 59th year, the annual Red Shield Appeal funds vital community programs, including financial assistance, homelessness, family and domestic violence, and drug and alcohol services.
Nationally, the Salvation Army provides assistance to one person every 17 seconds and conducts more than 1.86 million sessions of care to people in need.
InQueensland is a media partner of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Breakfast.
