Date Posted: 03/06/2021

Anglicare’s Life After Lockdown report reveals more Australians worse off

Anglicare Sydney’s Life After Lockdown report shows evidence of a social recession and an increase in financial hardship in the aftermath of COVID-19.

“Our report shows people are feeling more lonely, more anxious, and more isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Grant Millard, CEO of Anglicare Sydney, said.

“While government policy has acted as a buffer for many people, the reduction of income supports over the past six months has coincided with an increasing demand for Anglicare financial hardship services.

“The report has revealed more people are coming to Anglicare for help, including young people. And some also reported becoming homeless during the pandemic,” Mr Millard said.

Most notably, Anglicare saw an increase in clients with large rental debts, an increase in young people accessing its food and financial assistance services, and an increase in people self-reporting stress and anxiety.

The report also cites other national studies, which highlight:

Findings from the report (using data from client interactions), include: 

  • An increase of around 21% from March 2019 to March 2021 of people accessing Anglicare’s Food and Financial Assistance (FFA) service.
  • Increased proportion of young people between the ages of 18-34 accessing Anglicare’s FFA services, from 20% in 2018 to 34% in early 2021.
  • Around 12% of Anglicare’s FFA clients reported that they had experienced homelessness during the pandemic.
  • 63% of people accessing Anglicare’s Mental Health services have reported feeling more anxious and down than usual as a result of COVID-19.

 The report also cites other national studies, which highlight:

  • Around 30% of rent variations during the pandemic involved deferring the rent rather than reducing it, resulting in rental debts. This was estimated to have impacted around 75,000 tenants nationally and is reflected in Anglicare’s own data.
  • Two-thirds of women who had experienced family and domestic violence since the start of the pandemic reported that the violence began or escalated during the pandemic.
  • 76% of those who lost employment or had hours of work reduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic reported moderate or severe levels of psychological stress.

For further information on Anglicare’s Life After Lockdown report, click here.

Teresa Clark, Head of Anglicare’s Food and Financial Assistance, can be quoted:

“Some of our clients accessing our services had thought their rent was waived but instead their rent was only deferred, and they now have large rental debts.”

“We have also seen a large increase in the number of young people between 18-34 years accessing our services since the pandemic.”

Mike Sheedy, Anglicare’s Head of Mental Health, can be quoted:

“Our staff are helping people daily suffering in the social recession.”

“There has been a large increase in people self-reporting anxiety and lowered mood due to social isolation, rental stress, job loss, or a reduction of work hours.”

Sue King, the report’s Research Lead and Anglicare’s Head of Advocacy, can be quoted:

“This report gives a voice to struggling Australians. It shares their stories of how the pandemic continues to affect them.”

“While we welcome the Federal Government’s 2021 budget, there is still more to be done to reverse the financial hardship, mental health and social isolation impacts before it really takes hold within parts of the community.”

Grant Millard, CEO of Anglicare Sydney, can be further quoted:

“Communities and churches are part of the solution alongside government. Anglicare has already partnered with local Anglican churches through the Mobile Community Pantry program and other initiatives that rely on the generous support of our donors. We will continue to help in every way we can.”

Media contact:

Chris Pettett
Public Affairs Manager
0429 569 278