Thousands struggling to survive in Peel

A Mandurah welfare and crisis agency has estimated 6000 Peel residents are struggling to make ends meet.

The figure follows the 2014 Foodbank Hunger Report, which stated more than 50,000 WA people received help each month, up from 43,000 last year.

WestAus Crisis and Welfare Services chief executive and Mandurah City councillor Lynn Rodgers said the demand for help had increased "exponentially" in the past two years.

"The demand for food requests has increased 25 per cent in the past six months," she said.

She said in the past year, the welfare agency had helped 3000 clients, but if more donations were made to Peel Foodbank, she could refer double the number of clients for help.

Compared to last year, Cr Rodgers said its Breakfast Club service had increased by 5000 to 115,000 school-served breakfasts a year.

She said the increase proved a drastic number of people needed help in the region, especially after the State Budget measures handed down in May. "The Budget has made it more difficult for people to survive," she said.

"There are more people now living on or below the poverty line in Peel than two years ago.

"A lot of people are coming for emergency relief because they're behind in rent or bills.

"If the Treasurer cuts any more out of welfare, I really don't know how people will live."

Cr Rodgers provided the example of an 83-year-old client who had come to the service, having never needed the help of a charity before, because she was struggling to live off the $30 a fortnight which remained after bills.

"She hadn't eaten meat in a month, which is normal for people on low income or benefits," she said.

Peel Foodbank manager Caroline Cox said the volume of people needing help in the region was "heartbreaking".

"The actual numbers are staggering - I only see a snippet of people who get help from agencies in Peel.

"There needs to be a more unified community front to tackle the problem."