In the past few months we have seen many new clients for the first time. Some of whom have made donations to our organisation in the past. Many have resisted seeking out assistance from a charity for as long as possible; because whilst never rich, they have always considered themselves to be "working class". This means that by the time we see them they are usually in financial crisis and under a huge psychological strain as a result.

Typically, these are people who despite challenges, such as a difficult upbringing or a limited education have, until now, managed to cope. They're used to having to struggle to make ends meet, but in the past they've somehow always managed.   

It is clear at the moment that right across all sectors of Australia, from Joe on the street to big business people are feeling the pinch. To cope in hard times individuals and businesses "trim the fat".  This is never fun, but when there is no fat to trim, it is impossible.

The people we see are not upset because they have to forgo renovations, holidays, new cars or tickets to the theatre; they have to decide between paying the rent and buying groceries.

About 90 per cent of the people who come to us are receiving some form of Centrelink payment.

Some work part-time, or perhaps one parent works full time but in a low income job, but they are all struggling to support themselves and their dependents. Or, they are retirees who have already spent their working life raising and supporting a family.

Most of the people we see are spending over one third of their income on rent. For some of the old age pensioners we assist, this percentage is even higher, at a staggering 50 per cent.   

The higher the proportion of someone's income spent on rent, the more recent rental increase will affect them.

Pensioners who don't own their own homes are, to use how one of them described their own situation to me recently, "stuffed". People often forget that superannuation is a relatively new concept. The older members of the aged community, who do not own their own home have very little to no savings. This group is also facing higher costs of living in other areas, such as the increased cost of healthcare associated with aging.

No savings and no assets means no buffer. To make things worse, many of our clients have gone as far in to debt as possible with credit cards before coming to us so they really are on the back foot before they even begin. 

When the car breaks down, someone gets sick, or a big quarterly electricity bill arrives, the delicate balancing act falls apart; and in normal life all of these things will inevitably occur.  

For our clients, life is absolutely a fortnight to fortnight existence. At tail-end of the fortnight things get pretty tough. This is why, after providing what little immediate relief we can, we do our best to assist people with the information and skills that will help them manage their limited finances as effectively as possible in the future.

ANGLICARE receives some Commonwealth funding but we really rely on the donations we receive from local churches and the community.

Unfortunately, it is in times like this when the need for our services increases, that donations decrease.

Some of our supporters are "working class" individuals or small businesses and they are experiencing financial hardship themselves. When people are "trimming fat", donating to charities is one of first "luxury" expenses to be cut.

If you can afford to make even a small donation to an Australian charity assisting people in crisis this year I'd urge you to do so. If you have the choice to say no, you're luckier than some.  

Phil Coller is ANGLICARE Sydney's Assistant Director for Community Care. He oversees numerous programs that provide a variety of community services to help those experiencing tough times. There are over 130 care programs provided, including Emergency Relief, Family Support, Migrant Services, Disability Services, as well as Counselling and Education. These services are offered across the greater Sydney area including the South Coast (Illawarra and Shoalhaven) and Southern Highlands (to Moss Vale).

www.anglicare.org.au