Times are tough on Gympie's own ‘struggle street’

A GROWING number of Gympie region families live in poverty and are forced to seek help from The Salvation Army, a new survey reveals.

A GROWING number of Gympie region families live in poverty and are forced to seek help from The Salvation Army, a new survey reveals.

People are moving here for the cheaper accommodation, but then can't get a job.

The Salvos today release their 2015 Economic and Social Impact Survey ahead of the Red Shield Appeal.

The survey paints an alarming picture of what is happening to many marginalised Australians; a picture that is reflected in this region.

Of the 2406 people surveyed, most lived on less than $18 a day after paying for accommodation.

Major Brian Smith has headed up the Gympie Salvos for the past four months.

"Locally in Gympie over the past six months The Salvation Army has seen an increase in new clients, and some have relocated to our area for more affordable housing," Major Smith said.

"The number of people seeking assistance in the past six months has been 615, and out of that, 235 were new clients."

Major Smith said most people seeking help were after the "bare essentials".

"We have given out $14,000 in food in the last six months, $1500 in telephone bills, and clothing and blankets," he said.

"I have been told Gympie is a growing community; people are moving here for more affordable housing but there aren't enough local jobs to accommodate which adds financial stress to families.

"From time to time we have had homeless people coming for accommodation, but there is a shortage of accommodation in Gympie.

"We have helped them with food and blankets, but more needs to be done."

The 2015 ESIS report reveals what The Salvation Army says is "a bleak picture of entrenched and persistent poverty for a significant proportion of people who access Salvation Army services".

It was "deeply disturbing" that respondents had just $125 per week to live off to fund everything after accommodation had been paid.

More than 2400 people who visit 262 Salvation Army centres across Australia were in the study.

The majority of children in the survey experienced multiple levels of deprivation, with 60% of them missing at least five items considered normal and necessary for a child in an economically advanced country like Australia.

Fifty-six per cent of respondents said their financial situation was worse than last year.

Most people surveyed were 25-59 years old.

The report calls for "a further shift in social policy direction led by the Federal Government to address the causes of persistent and chronic disadvantage across our communities."

AT A GLANCE

What the Salvos provide every week in Australia:

 100,000 meals;

 2000 beds;

 8000 food vouchers;

 Refuge for 500 abuse victims.