Salvation Army struggle to cope with demand for help

Salvation Army struggle to cope with demand for help

The Salvation Army are our oldest and largest social provider but they are struggling to cope with the demand for help.

They help more than 100 thousand people a year including food banks, budgeting, drugs and alcohol help and emergency housing.

In an effort to tackle the housing crisis, desperate frontline workers have suggested places of worship could become a place for shelter.

"It is very problematic and seems a little unlikely that it'll be possible, but the fact people are thinking about these things is a sign of desperation I believe," says Lieutenant Colonel Ian Huton.

Although the Salvation Army often deal with the desperate and homeless, increasingly they are being called upon for help by working families.

"Some might say it's only people on the benefit but it's people who've got jobs who are not able to get into appropriate housing or in some cases, any housing," says Lt. Huton.

For the frontline workers whose ethos is to help people and the person, they feel they have run out of solutions and have nothing to offer.

More to follow.