Advertisement

Brutal reality of poverty in Perth

Pete Hollings one of an estimated 40,000 people living on less than $18 a day. Picture: Michael Wilson/ The West Australian

Guildford’s Pete Hollings faces the brutal reality of choosing between looking for work and having decent meal.

“When I’m down to $5 a day, I’ve had to make a choice about whether I go out and look for a job, do volunteer work or eat,” he said.

“I’ve made the choice not to eat.”

On average, about 40,000 West Australians are living on less than $18 a day and going without food to pay for basic necessities, according to the Salvation Army.

The crisis support service today released its annual National Economic and Social Impact Survey, which examined disadvantage those who rely on its community support services.

Those surveyed had an average of less than $125 a week to live on after accommodation and utilities – equating to just $17.86 per day.

“In WA, we would assist well over 40,000 people with our community support services,” Salvation Army public relations secretary Warren Palmer said.

“We’ve seen increases in both the number and the complexity of people relying on our services.

“These people are not coping, because they are coming to us. They are falling through the cracks.”

Salvation Army found that 75 per cent of its community services clients had to cut down on basic necessities such as food, shelter and warmth.

About 60 per cent of those surveyed had gone without food to pay their bills.

About 70 per cent of families surveyed are going without dental treatment, 73 per cent cannot afford comprehensive car insurance and 91 per cent do not have money saved for emergencies.

For the first time the survey calculated a Personal Wellbeing Index of respondents, based on overall living standards, health, relationships, achievement and sense of community.

Compared to the national average of about 72 per cent of PWI, those seeking Salvation Army’s community services had an average PWI of 46 per cent.

Homeless respondents had the lowest PWI at 28 per cent, while single parents had an average PWI of 44 per cent.

About 88 per cent of those surveyed relied on government support services such as the Newstart allowance.

Mr Hollings, 51, came to the Salvation Army in October (2014), after years of unsuccessfully looking for work.

He became unemployed in 2011 after an alcohol addiction caused him to lose his job as an IT manager.

Once he got his life back on track, Mr Hollings started receiving a Newstart allowance.

He said Newstart payments were not sufficient to help him find work.

“It doesn’t take into consideration people’s personal circumstances,” he said.

“People my age looking for work need more assistance. I am being treated the same as a 25-year-old applying for jobs.”