Desperate families seeking charity loans for basics

The cost-of-living crisis is becoming a permanent challenge for charities across Australia. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

In 20 years on the frontline of charity services, Tairyn Vergara says she has never seen anything like the current demand for help from desperate families.

"Families are really, really struggling," says the chief executive of Parks Community Network in western Sydney.