|PIC1|During the 2007-08 financial year, Wesley Creditline Financial Counselling Service provided counsel and support to 4826 people but turned away a record 2424 people.
Our four financial counselling centres open for bookings on Monday mornings and within 30 minutes all appointments are taken. Financially vulnerable people wait for up to four weeks to see a financial counsellor.
The number of women seeking crisis accommodation grew from 148 to 227 – a jump of 53 per cent on the previous year… and this was pre-September!
The crisis is deepening - 448 families have come to Wesley Mission's head office seeking emergency relief, food and financial assistance in the past three months - a 25 per cent increase on the previous period.
Unemployment levels are also predicted to rise. Household debt is already at record levels, and many families have borrowed to their capacity, leaving them dangerously exposed. A job loss, or even an injury or serious illness, could be a disaster for those families in the coming months.
And while many people are talking about the global economic crisis there is real concern for the thousands of families who are being directly affected.
The situation would worsen post-Christmas as credit cards bills become due, jobs are cut and casual and part-time employment declines.
Parents feel immense pressure to give their children Christmas presents they cannot afford, and as a result they spend up big on their credit cards. Soon enough the bills come in and they are left struggling to pay the mortgage or rent, or put food on the table.
With predictions of growing unemployment and a predictable reduction in the hours for part-time and casual staff the demands on the community services sector will continue to grow. While falling mortgage interest rates have brought some respite there are many we see – particularly private renters – and those burden by credit cards and personal loans who find it harder to service that debt and make ends meet.
I was recently in Canberra working with other providers, raising the issue of the impact of the global financial crisis on families and communities with senior ministers of the Commonwealth Government.
Twenty-four of us met and, between us, represented more than 65 percent of all the non-government welfare provision in Australia - Wesley Mission being one of the largest individual providers. The needs of the community are increasing and due to the current economic situation, with potentially less income some charities will be stretched in their capacity and some may possibly have to cut services and focus their efforts on key areas.
The charitable sector accounts for a very significant part of the Australian economy and providers continually seek ways to be more efficient while maintaining quality services to the community. The good news on the Australian front is that historically when times are tough, individual donors - particularly Christians - step up to the challenge and increase their giving.
From our own experience at Wesley Mission giving increased during the 1987 crash, the recession of the early 1990s and post 9/11.This may not have been the experience for all Not for Profits – particularly those in education, the arts and sciences – but it does ring true for organisations which have Jesus Christ at the centre of their work and have the support of faithful Christian people.
It only underlines the words of the author of the Book of Proverbs: "The righteous care about justice for the poor…" (Proverbs 29:7) and "…whoever is kind to the needy honours God." (Proverbs 14:31).
Every gift helps Wesley Mission to offer the care and long term support people need to overcome pressing economic problems and provide hope for the long term. We urgently need public support to care for the people who have found themselves in dire circumstances.
Donations can be made by phoning 1800 021 821 or by visiting the Wesley Mission web site: www.wesleymission.org.au/donate