A year end tale of increased need… and response

The poor in Victoria (Australia) have been under unprecedented stress and the SVDP has responded. The 2008/09 financial year has seen:
– a 60% increase in the number of people provided with assistance to find accommodation.
– a 67% increase in the number of women and children assisted to escape family violence
Also, during this calendar year, unprecedented demand on our welfare line has seen

– a 13% increase in calls to 52,389 and
– 11.8% increase to 232,284 in the number of meals provided by Society soup vans

But the year also saw
– a 14% increase in funds generated in Vinnies Centres for local welfare work.
– an 8.4% increase in the dollar value of assistance given by St Vincent de Paul Society volunteers (in groups called conferences). The 2008/09 total was $8,936,329.

This report echos the reports of most SVDP councils around the world.

Christmas media release from the Victoria SVDP website