Anglicare Victoria St Luke’s regional director Carolyn Wallace has encouraged people to seek support for financial distress. 

She said winter was a particularly perilous time for people experiencing homelessness and the peak period for charities.

“Every year we watch temperatures drop down into the negatives in the coldest parts of Victoria, yet homelessness remains an issue in these areas,” Ms Wallace said. 

“People would be amazed by the amount of support you can get to help deal with debt and get back on track.”

She said about 35 percent of young people leaving state care would become homeless this year, with that figure expected to rise during the winter months. 

Her comments come after a donation of nearly $3 million worth of products by Sirena Tuna.

Ms Wallace said the donation would help clients struggling through winter. 

“We are incredibly grateful for the support Sirena Tuna has shown us during this tough time of the year and we hope this will encourage other large businesses to do the same,” she said.

“Anglicare welcomes donations of any non-perishable foods and we work with our partner organisations to ensure those donations get to the people who need it most. We are not a food bank.”

Anglicare volunteer Terry found himself homeless for almost four months after his relationship disintegrated in 2012. 

“I was 55 years old and on the street – the last place I ever expected to be,” he said.

“I’ve never felt cold like that in my life.”

He said Anglicare Victoria put him on the right track by putting him in housing and providing food and clothing.

Terry is no longer homeless and volunteers with Anglicare Victoria to thank them for their assistance.

“They got me in the link with all the agencies because I didn’t know about any of that stuff – I had never been in that position before,” he said. 

“The hardest thing was to work up enough courage to talk to someone about it – I had never asked for help before in my life.”