Parents starve: Salvos report lays bare unprecedented levels of poverty

Queensland’s poorest parents are living on their children’s leftovers and waiting at school all day because they can’t afford petrol.

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Queensland parents are starving and eating only scraps of food from their kids’ plates as a shocking new report from the Salvation Army shows unprecedented levels of poverty in the state.

The cost-of-living crunch pushed 20,000 Queenslanders to seek help from the Salvos last year, and the majority of those with children were living on less than $5 a day.

Harrowing stories from everyday Queenslanders reveal parents are rapidly losing weight, eating their kids’ leftovers or nothing at all if there are none, while others are sitting in the school car park all day because they can’t afford the petrol needed to leave and come back.

Extreme levels of financial stress are outlined in the charity’s research released on Wednesday, with one distressed mother who can’t afford to eat telling of her acute weight loss.

“I have lost 40kg in the last nine months because all my money goes on keeping a roof over my kids’ heads and trying to keep them in a safe place,” the 55-year-old said.

Another mother, 29, admitted she would only eat her child’s leftovers.

“If there is any, or I just don’t eat,” she said.

“I wait at the school car park from drop-off until pick-up if I’m short on fuel. I have sold most of my own clothing to buy my children clothes.”

The report shows that 90 per cent of those reaching out to the Salvos struggle to afford basic necessities. More than half are skipping meals and one quarter of children are not getting three square meals a day as families struggle to pay for a roof over their heads.

Salvation Army Queensland Divisional Commander Major Gavin Watts

The latest data from PropTrack Market Insights shows that Brisbane rents rose 15.6 per cent in 12 months, which was the biggest surge in any capital city in the country.

Tenants are paying a median rent of $550 per week for a house and $465 for a unit.

“We have seen a significant increase in everyday Queenslanders who have fallen through the cracks over the last year,” Salvation Army Queensland Divisional Commander Major Gavin Watts said.

“In many instances, we are seeing those who used to volunteer or donate money and time to help the Salvos now coming to us for help.

“Everyone is doing it tough at the moment, but for those who were already struggling, the cost-of-living crisis is making it almost impossible for them to survive without help.”

Salvation Army community workers report they are feeding more people than ever before.

Queensland households with children last year were the hardest hit from financial pressures.

Nearly three-quarters of these households are living $200 below the poverty line.

Close to 30 per cent cannot afford to take their child to see a doctor or a dentist.

Brisbane Streetlevel Mission community engagement worker Lisa Kroon said they predominantly see a mix of rough sleepers and people from boarding houses.

“A lot of people can’t pay their rent,” she said.

Madeline Weber, Lisa Kroon and Heather Olm from the Salvation Army’s Brisbane Streetlevel Mission. Picture: Josh Woning

Ms Kroon said a lot of people who come into the mission would also be in public housing, and generally they see more men than women.

Ms Kroon said most homeless people wanted food, money and assistance.

Queensland Council of Social Service chief executive Aimee McVeigh said the demand for community services across Queensland had never been greater, with most unable to meet the demand.

“Across the state we know there are families with children, older women and people with disability living in cars, tents and hotel rooms,” she said.

“The cost-of-living crisis is seeing Queenslanders, including children, going without food, medicine, airconditioning and heating in order to save money wherever they can. From July 2023, Queensland households will be paying up to 33 per cent more for electricity.

“The Queensland state budget next month presents a golden opportunity to provide relief to Queenslanders who need it the most.”

Major Watts urged Queenslanders to dig deep to support the Salvos’ Red Shield Appeal.

This year’s appeal aims to raise $5.5m. Last year the organisation distributed nearly $2.9m in financial assistance.

To donate to the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, or if you need support, visit salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58). You can also donate at any Salvos Store

BY THE NUMBERS

* 90 per cent struggling to afford basics

* Typical battler left living on less than $5 a day

* 57 per cent skipping meals

* 47 per cent can’t afford vital healthcare

* 77 per cent suffering housing stress

* 71 per cent living $200 below poverty line

* 30 per cent of kids don’t go to doctor or dentist

* 25 per cent kids don’t have three meals a day

Source: The Salvation Army