A Salvation Army report cited by SBS News reveals a sharp rise in food insecurity across Australia, with 4,400 Australians seeking emergency relief.Among the findings, 91% had skipped meals in the past year, and about one-third did so daily.Roughly 67% watered down food or drinks to extend supplies, and nearly 20% admitted eating from bins.Around 60% reported consuming expired food.The crisis affects not only pensioners and benefit recipients but also working families.Rent increases are pushing more Australians toward seeking assistance, including renters who are struggling to pay other bills.

Emergency charities report growing demand and sometimes must turn people away; OzHarvest estimated over 74,000 people were refused food relief monthly due to capacity limits.Advocates urge preventative measures and increased government investment in food security programs to keep people in their homes.

The federal government’s national food security strategy, launched last July, is seen as a starting point, but charities argue for more resources and proactive support to prevent homelessness and severe financial distress.

Stories from beneficiaries, including a mother who worries about her children’s meals during special occasions, highlight the emotional toll of food insecurity on families.The piece underscores that the cost of living crisis has evolved into a cost of surviving crisis, prompting calls for broader systemic solutions.