Canberra

Canberra is a planned city, all wide roads and government buildings, with a quiet, orderly feel that can make it hard to find visibility or community if you're doing it tough. The average household income here sits around $2,500 a week, among the highest in the country, which means the cost of living is steep and the gap between comfortable and struggling is stark. The ACT's 2021 Census recorded 1,224 people experiencing homelessness on any given night, a number advocates believe has climbed since with rising rents. St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn runs food relief and support services, Vinnies operates alongside groups like OzHarvest ACT, which redistributes food to those doing it tough, and Companion House offers support particularly for people who've experienced trauma or displacement. Havelock House and other Uniting-run services can also be a starting point if you need a bed or someone to talk to. This city can feel cold in more ways than one, but there are people here who see you and want to help. You are not invisible, and you are not alone in this.