Cost of Living & Power Prices Rise

Today Salvation Army Officer, Major Paul Moulds, was featured in The Sydney Daily Telegraph, discussing how power prices are affecting those living on the margins. Major Moulds response was off the back of The Daily Telegraph revealing some startling figures last week about the effect power prices were having on Australians this winter, finding that 68,400 homes across New South Wales were at risk of being disconnected from electricity due to increasing power prices. 

“It gets hard … we all wander round with blankets wrapped around us. My mum tried putting in a rule where there were only allowed to be two lights on, so if you turned on an extra one, another one had to go off,” 26-year-old James, from Sydney's Macquarie Park, told the Daily Telegraph.

Channel 10, Channel 7 and A Current Affair shared stories from those trying to make ends meet.

68,000 Sydney homes are believed to be at risk of having the power cut off. #7News pic.twitter.com/4hNzdIwzz3

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) July 25, 2017

Australia is in the grip of a crisis, with household electricity bills going through the roof. #9ACA | FULL STORY: https://t.co/gVHqeRg7bL pic.twitter.com/MCLT7b8SCK

— A Current Affair (@ACurrentAffair9) July 26, 2017

On @ACurrentAffair9 last night, our Macquarie Fields Salvos shared how they're providing basic essentials for those who are in need. #9ACA https://t.co/0Wn2IDtxGH

— The Salvation Army (@salvos) August 1, 2017

Local Salvos across the nation are seeing this trend in their communities. As power prices, bills and the cost of groceries rise, the reality is that people have to cut corners elsewhere. To compensate, people are often going without food, school items for their children, and warm water to wash their clothes.

LIGHTS OUT: Record numbers of Sydney families can no longer afford electricity… and it’s getting worse. #TenNews @danielsutton10 pic.twitter.com/gTJWl7NwoT

— TEN News Sydney (@TenNewsSydney) July 25, 2017

We encourage anyone struggling to reach out to their local Salvos centre.

Our Financial Counselling service is also available to provide free and confidential support to those in financial difficulty, or those looking to avoid getting into financial trouble.

If you would like to help others who are struggling, you can make a gift here.