The Salvation Army<\/a> are seeing play out across the country on an unprecedented scale.<\/p>\nOver the past year alone, almost 289,000 people sought support from the organisation\u2019s homelessness services.<\/p>\n
The charity\u2019s head of homelessness Dr Jed Donoghue told news.com.au that what might surprise people the most is that the crisis is no longer just confined to those sleeping rough. <\/p>\n
With the cost-of-living biting, working people, families, and older women are now being pushed to the brink too.<\/p>\n
In fact, contrary to common perceptions, rough sleeping accounts for only around six per cent of homelessness in Australia.<\/p>\n
The most common form is actually overcrowded housing, which impacts around 40 per cent of people experiencing a crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cHomelessness is about much more than sleeping rough. People are living in cars, couch surfing or staying in overcrowded homes because they have nowhere else to go,\u201d Dr Donoghue said.<\/p>\n
Bridging the gap<\/p>\n
To bridge the gap and stop vulnerable Australians from falling through the cracks, the charity is calling on governments and communities to take urgent action.<\/p>\n
The Salvos say society needs to shift its approach, urgently calling for an increase in the supply of social and affordable housing, early intervention programs, and a \u201cHousing First\u201d approach that prioritises permanent accommodation.<\/p>\n
Crucially, the charity says greater investment is needed in wraparound support services to help people sustain long-term housing and overcome the systemic issues that led them there in the first place.<\/p>\n
For Casey, giving back and supporting those still struggling is a vital part of his own ongoing recovery.<\/p>\n
By introducing the men in his shelter to recovery meetings if they are open to it, he hopes to guide them toward the same second chance he was given.<\/p>\n
\u201cI listen to the stories of others, show them that I understand and I walk with them through their challenges and changes they might need to make,\u201d Casey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing I learned is that for me to heal and get well, I need help but I also needed the willingness to change.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information on how you can help, or if you need support, visit The Salvation Army Australia website or call 13 SALVOS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For more than 20 years, Casey\u2019s life was defined by a cycle of addiction, incarceration and life 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