'Crisis in Canberra': Poverty inquiry hears ACT residents and service providers are struggling

YWCA CEO Frances Crimmins, who told the Committee the rate of welfare payments needs to increase for people in the ACT to keep up with the cost of living. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Canberra's non-for-profit community service providers and poverty advocacy groups have provided worrying evidence about people in Canberra struggling with the cost of living and service providers struggling to keep up with increased demand.

The Senate Committee into the extent and nature of poverty in Australia, chaired by Greens senator Janet Rice and attended by ACT senator David Pocock, heard from the ACT Council of Social Service, Roundabout Canberra, YWCA Canberra, HelpingACT, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services and CommunityServices #1 on Monday evening.