Wagga families seek out help from charities

THE RISING cost of living is forcing Wagga residents to seek help from charities and welfare organisations such as the Salvation Army.Wagga corps officer Lieutenant Tammy Shelley said there had been an increase in the number of people looking for help with everyday household bills such as electricity."They're struggling with the rising costs of living," she said."Power bills are the big reason (for seeking help) at this time of year."Lieutenant Shelley said the pressures facing Wagga families had driven people who otherwise would not normally seek help to the Salvos.Many of the people had jobs but who were facing such an increase in costs of power, food and education costs they were not able meet them on what they earned.With power prices set to rise from July 1, more families will be needing to tighten their belts or seek help from welfare and charity organisations.While the Salvation Army had seen increases in people looking for help Wagga homeowners appeared to be paying their mortgages before any of their other bills such as electricity. New statistics released by the international credit ratings agency Fitch indicate Wagga home owners are less likely to fall behind on their mortgage payments.With the delinquency rate -how many people are falling 30 days or more behind payments on their mortgage - running at 1.07 per cent in Wagga, the national delinquency rate according to Fitch is 1.23 per cent.