The Salvation Army: Politics is harming those who need our help the most

The Salvation Army is calling on the Australian government and ‘all political parties’ to start working together to address ‘the debilitating impact of entrenched poverty and situational disadvantage’.

We can no longer ignore the fact that the politicising of issues such as homelessness and housing is merely delaying a proper response. Without a bipartisan approach, we, The Salvation Army, will only be able to provide limited responses to these important issues.

The Salvation Army has put together a range of innovative statements and the Salvos’ National Commander, Commissioner Floyd Tidd, says that the May Federal budget must address the needs of disadvantaged Australians. 

'The Salvation Army welcomes opportunities to work with the Australian Government to effectively and compassionately support marginalised and disadvantaged Australians, and address the issues that impact their lives and our entire community,’ adds Commissioner Tidd.

Today, The Salvation Army releases a set of six key priority statements that address:

1. Poverty and disadvantage
2. Family and domestic violence
3. Homelessness and housing
4. Alcohol and other drugs
5. Employment
6. Aged care

Among its recommendations, The Salvation Army calls for:

• Targeted and increased support for children experiencing deprivation, particularly in single-parent families on inadequate income support payments;
• Increased supply of safe housing and accommodation for women and their children escaping Family and Domestic Violence, including rapid re-housing, crisis and long-term housing; and
• Expanded and developed intensive support services to rough sleepers to address the complexity of their need.

The Salvation Army helps communities in more than 2,200 contact points throughout Australia, with a national annual operating budget in excess of $700 million.

In 2016, across Australia, the Salvos:

• provided 486,000 occasions of emergency relief assistance
• assisted 200,000 Australians through Salvation Army services
• provided homelessness support and housing services to 26,500 Australians
• provided drug and alcohol treatment services to 19,700 Australians

Commissioner Tidd urges governments, elected representatives, business and community leaders to ‘improve the lives of the vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the communities that we serve on a daily basis. We can do this by working together, from the ground up, making real changes to the way we approach poverty and need in Australia.’

ENDS

For comments and further information please contact The Salvation Army Media Unit on 0437 830 550 or mediateam@aus.salvationarmy.org