Affordable Food

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Have you considered what modern poverty looks like, in Australia?

Affordable housing, sky-rocketing bills, and now food, is a serious issue for individuals and families, whether they are living on the margins or the working poor.

After paying rent, utility bills and hopefully putting some petrol in the car, food is the first necessity people are giving up to meet their competing living costs.

Our BaptistCare HopeStreet teams are seeing firsthand that food distress is on the rise dramatically, and people are in desperate need of low cost food, a free meal, or emergency relief to ensure they do eat.

We’re seeing single parent families, or families living right on the poverty line, who just can’t afford to feed themselves and their children. Lunchboxes go to school with little to nothing in them, and nutrition becomes a secondary concern to actually being able to access food.

Where complex family issues are playing out, single parents can sometimes be waiting on government payments for up to 12 weeks, giving them even less cash to work with as they try to feed their children.

For people living in boarding houses or who are homeless, the situation is exacerbated by having limited facilities to prepare or cook any food they can access. They experience a myriad of issues, and food just happens to be one of them.

Food Support

HopeStreet welcomes many people living with disadvantage through its doors every day, to enjoy nutritious, wholesome sit-down meals.

Most often, they are homeless and the meal we provide might be the only meal they eat that day. It’s not just about the meal though; HopeStreet is a safe and welcoming place where positive friendships are built and the sense of community is strong. Food support extends beyond sit down meals at HopeStreet; crisis food packs are also provided often to individuals and families who lack the basic items to make a meal.

HopeStreet Locations this service is offered: Dubbo Grafton Mayfield Port Kembla Wallsend Windale

Low Cost Groceries

Food affordability is a significant issue experienced by families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet.

Access to low-cost and nutritious groceries means that people can stock their cupboards, and redirect much needed funds to other living costs such as household bills. HopeStreet’s low cost groceries are sourced from our local food partners, and include everything from fresh bread, to cereal, fruit and vegetables and cleaning products. At HopeStreet, we believe that everyone has the right to access food that is affordable and nutritious.

HopeStreet Locations this service is offered: Grafton Wallsend Windale

Street-based Outreach

HopeStreet provides a street-based outreach service that provides practical care and support to vulnerable people in areas of need, including people who are experiencing homelessness, people who are socially isolated and who are living on the margins.

With our outreach street van, our team provides free meals, tea and coffee, cold drinks, clothing, blankets, referral and advocacy services. Street-based outreach allows us to engage and provide food to people living on the street or people who are struggling with food affordability. The service acts as a key referral point to our HopeStreet Community Outreach Team, which supports people to find housing and access support services.

HopeStreet Locations this service is offered: Mayfield

At BaptistCare HopeStreet, we partner with food rescue organisations to give our local communities access to fresh, nutritious and everyday food and grocery items.

The daily meal we prepare and serve is often the only meal our clients will have for that day and clients turn up well before the meal is served, to connect with each other and feel a sense of community and support. We’re usually at capacity because the need is so great.

Our free and low-cost food, as well as our emergency food packs, are all about maximizing what goes home and fills the cupboards, whether it’s free fruit, vegetables and bread or low cost grocery items.

The Social Policy Research Centre at UNSW nailed it with the comment, “Poverty isn’t just about a clean measure of income it’s about being able to participate in life and make choices."

Having to make the choice not to eat or feed your family isn’t fair. We come around people and families to give them access to food, and more than that, a safe place to come and ask for help and find hope as they connect with people who truly care about them.

Affordable Food

Have you considered what modern poverty looks like, in Australia?

What we do