Southcare expands Emergency Relief to four days a week, bolstered by $100,000 grant to meet demand surge 

Southcare is expanding its emergency relief service to four days a week, with demand for crisis support backed by a $100,000 Lotterywest grant to help meet growing need.

The increased availability is in direct response to helping more people navigate the sharp and sustained rise in financial distress across the community.

Southcare Chief Executive Officer Enda Fahy said the team are now seeing cost of living related hardship as a continued driver of demand — a shift that has accelerated since COVID-19 and shows no sign of easing.

“What we’re seeing now isn’t short-term strain — it’s people who are stuck and demand for support now is higher than it was during the pandemic,” Mr Fahy said.

“This service has always operated for 3 days a week and the demand has seen us allocate additional resources to open for an additional day so that we can see and help more people.”

“People are making difficult decisions every day about what to go without, and increasingly, that’s food, medication, or keeping the lights on. This funding allows us to step in at a critical moment.”

The $100,000 Lotterywest grant, presented by Member for South Perth Geoff Baker MLA, will provide direct, practical assistance including food vouchers, rent support, and help with utility bills — support that can mean the difference between stability and crisis.

For many households, rising housing costs continue to be the defining pressure. Renters in particular are facing limited availability, rising weekly rents, and little capacity to absorb further increases.

“At the heart of what we’re seeing is an affordability challenge that touches housing, groceries and petrol, which then flows into everything else,” Mr Fahy said.

“When such a large portion of income is going to rent or mortgages, plus shopping and fuel, there’s simply no buffer left for unexpected costs. That’s when people turn to services like ours and we are grateful to to be able to support them in this time of need.”

Mr Fahy said the service is also supporting a broader cross-section of the community than in previous years, including people who have never needed assistance before.

“We’re seeing working individuals and families who have always managed – until now. That tells us this is not just about vulnerability, it’s about a system under pressure.”

In addition to immediate relief, Southcare continues to prioritise long-term support through free financial counselling, helping clients navigate debt, budgeting challenges, and pathways toward financial independence.

Mr Baker said the funding recognises both the scale of need and the importance of community-based responses.

“Behind every statistic is a person or family doing their best to get by,” he said.

“To have a local community group like Southcare directly supporting people in the City of South Perth is vital for those doing it tough, and I am delighted to present this $100,000 to help make positive difference,” Mr Baker said.

“Southcare provides practical help when it’s needed most, but just as importantly, they offer people a way forward. This grant ensures that support is there when it matters,” he said.

Southcare supported 1,328 individuals last financial year, and early indicators suggest demand in 2026 will exceed previous records.

Emergency relief services are available free of charge to City of South Perth residents, with expanded service days reflecting increased demand. All assistance is confidential, and residents are encouraged to call 9450 6233 to confirm eligibility before attending.

As financial pressures deepen and recovery remains uneven, Southcare’s message is clear: help is available, and no one should have to navigate hardship alone.

Southcare’s emergency relief is open Monday – Thursday between 10am-2.30pm. When visiting, please bring your current identification showing your address in South Perth, Manning, Como, Salter Point, Karawara, Waterford or Kensington. No appointment is required, but we suggest calling to check availability and eligibility.

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