Pressure on crisis services

FAMILY crisis services reported a spike in people seeking emergency accommodation, food and housing over the Christmas period with family violence believed to be the leading cause of demand.

Other homeless people who couch surf, found themselves kicked out of friends’ homes and on the street over the Christmas period to make way for relatives, frontline workers say.

Geelong SalvoConnect workers saw 115 main clients and 300 dependants reach out for help in the fortnight from December 15 to 27. The numbers were up from 83 main client and 230 dependants in the same period last year.

Nine single people and four families, including seven children aged between one and 17, have been placed in crisis acco- modation since December 21.

SalvoConnect housing and homelessness team leader Kylie Hay said the majority of clients contacted the service after fleeing violent or unsafe situations. She said the majority of families placed in local motels over the Christmas period were seeking a safe place to live.

“Family safety and the welfare of children were the main issues. (Cases included) families (that) had fled from interstate,” Ms Hay said.

The agency assisted many children by providing clothing, basic toiletries and presents, as well as providing hampers.

Currently the crisis centre is at capacity.

Ms Hay praised the community’s generosity over the festive season.

“More than 650 individuals and families were supported through the Christmas Cheer appeal,” she said.