Cost of living pressures ignite unprecedented need for food relief

The rising cost of living in Australia has driven an unprecedented need for food relief, signalling a systemic issue that requires urgent attention. 

While wage growth stagnates, living costs are escalating, leading to an alarming number of Australians grappling with food insecurity.

Community-led initiatives, such as the Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre’s (CNLC’s) Free Food Relief Market at our Open Door office, are working to mitigate this growing crisis. These initiatives offer a broad range of food items and other essentials to those most affected by these economic pressures.

The severity of the situation is further underlined by the Neighbourhood House Victoria’s 2022 survey. This survey indicates a steep increase in the number of Neighbourhood Houses now providing food relief compared to previous years. 

In 2022, 58.4 per cent of the 400 Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria reported that they were delivering food relief and that it had become one of the top 10 services provided by Neighbourhood Houses. More than two million kilograms of food relief were delivered per year (nine tonnes each day) by Neighbourhood Houses.

What was once a secondary service for Neighbourhood Houses has become a primary offering due to the stark increase in demand.

This rising need for food relief serves as a bellwether for broader societal and economic issues. Though community food relief programs are necessary and do an invaluable job of mitigating immediate hardship, they are also a band-aid solution. Food Relief initiatives cannot be the long-term solution.

To combat food insecurity Australia must implement systemic changes addressing the root causes. There is a pressing need for policy interventions aimed at strengthening wage growth, reducing inequality, and ensuring affordable living and affordable housing for all.

In the interim, community organisations like the Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre continue to provide essential relief to those grappling with these challenging economic circumstances. 

If any local businesses, cafés, restaurants, or agencies want to help support the Carlton community with food relief please contact Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre on 9347 2739.There are many solutions we can find together. •