The Salvation Army published its National Economic and Social Impact Survey, which showed hundreds of regional Australians were suffering from housing distress and domestic violence. 

Captain Dale Murray urged residents to lend a few hours of their time to the Red Shield Appeal. 

“There is a wider gap developing because the number isn’t decreasing, we are having more and more people coming to us for help,” Captain Murray said.  “We really need more people to give a couple of hours.”

The data showed nearly one in five clients were homeless or living in temporary accommodation. 

The report, which surveyed 1600 Salvation Army clients, also showed one in five clients could not afford medical treatment or medicines prescribed for their child, while two in five could not afford a yearly dental check-up. Furthermore, domestic violence was a leading cause of housing transiency with children at risk of social exclusion because of housing instability.   

“We are encouraging on all sides of politics to make this a federal election issue because we can’t be putting a band-aid on the disadvantaged,” Mr Murray said. 

“The results of the survey are saying that rural areas such as Armidale are over-represented and struggling the most.

“The report isn’t a surprise because we do see a significant number of people coming through our doors.”

The doorknock will be held on Sunday from 9am, with volunteers meeting at 100 Beardy Street. 

See salvos.org.au for details.