Salvation Army Calls for Urgent Kindness

New research from The Salvation Army highlights the severe impact of the current cost of living crisis, revealing that 30% of women surveyed have remained in or postponed leaving unsafe relationships due to financial constraints.

The study surveyed over 4,400 Australians seeking emergency relief, finding that 16% had resorted to couch surfing or living in their cars over the past year. Financial pressures have left 65% losing sleep, while 54% feel unsupported by society.

Major Bruce Harmer from The Salvation Army urged Australians to support those in need, stating, “Our research shows that the cost of living isn’t just impacting people’s back pocket, but also their mental and physical health, and this shouldn’t be happening in a lucky country like Australia.”

Impact on Health and Housing

The cost of living crisis has caused one in four respondents to use hospital emergency departments instead of visiting a GP, due to cost constraints. 38% of renters expressed concerns about potential homelessness.

One community member shared their experience, saying, “I had never asked for any assistance before, as I was always self-dependent and have always relied on myself. As my sickness has progressed, my life has changed so much, and so have my needs. The Sallys were so kind to me. I wasn’t judged, belittled, or anything else you feel in that situation.”

The Salvation Army aims to raise $41 million by 30th June to continue providing essential support services, including safe accommodation and food assistance. Major Harmer emphasised the importance of public donations to the Red Shield Appeal.

Across Australia, last year, The Salvation Army’s network of over 400 centres offered assistance to one person every 17 seconds. They provided more than 1.74 million sessions of care to over 228,000 people, over 1 million nights of safe accommodation, and served over 1.4 million meals to those accessing their homelessness services.

The organisation calls for kindness as the financial year ends, urging Australians to donate and support those who are struggling. The contributions help provide practical support like a safe bed, food, utilities assistance, and a listening ear.

Last updated: 29 June 2026, 11:46 am