Tough times hitting Coast hard

RISING cost of living has been blamed for plunging an increased number of Sunshine Coast residents into hardship.

Be part of the Sunshine Coast Daily's Adopt-A-Family appeal this Christmas. Picture: John Gass

RISING cost of living has been blamed for plunging an increased number of Sunshine Coast residents into hardship.

One Sunshine Coast support agency has noted an increase in the number of single and dual income households struggling to get by.

More than 700 children, singles, couples and families have been listed as needing support this Christmas through the Sunshine Coast Daily's Adopt-A-Family Appeal.

Tom Lew and Debra Knight, of Gateway Care, Caloundra, said a supposed economic upturn had not yet flowed through to members of society who had been struggling.

They said Gateway Care, which offered a discounted food centre, men's shed and counselling, was seeing more families and unemployed people seeking help.

>> CHECK OUT THE SUNSHINE COAST DAILY'S ADOPT-A-FAMILY CAMPAIGN HERE

The highest need was among single-income families who were not eligible for Centrelink assistance, although dual income couples also ineligible for formal welfare were also looking for assistance, they said.

Lieutenant Stuart Glover, of the Salvation Army, Caloundra, said he expected more people to need help this year than last year.

"There is still a lot of need out there from people who are struggling to make ends meet," he said. Lt Glover put the upswing down to the impact of the rising cost of living, particularly on people with fixed incomes.

SunnyKids chief executive officer Chris Turner urged people who wanted to help those less fortunate to remember that help was needed year-round, not just at Christmas.

"What we want to get through is that families are struggling all year and we don't have anywhere near the support we need to assist them throughout the year," he said.

SunnyKids supports about 150 families a year who have nowhere to live, and also provides a safety net for 2000 to 4000 schoolchildren.

"Everybody's dollars are hard earnt and most of us don't have extra cashing lying around. We need to be sure when we do something charitable with our money that it's effective," he said.