By William Ton

Charities could be forced to turn away desperate Australians as they face an unprecedented surge in demand for essential non-food items.

About eight in 10 charities across Australia say demand for essential non-food products has exploded, according to a report from charity distributor Good360.

The survey of more than 500 Australian charities and disadvantaged schools revealed 84 per cent expect the cost-of-living crisis to supercharge demand for these items in the coming year, with personal hygiene products, clothing and educational supplies topping the list.

Eastern Hills Community Pantry handed out $900,000 worth of items in 2023 with half being non-food related, manager Kerry Retallack said.

“Last year, we asked OzHarvest for 50 hampers and handed out 86 for Christmas.

“This year, we’re asking for 100 and we’re aiming to hand out 160,” Ms Retallack told AAP.

The Perth-based charity provides various non-food essentials including kitchen items, toiletries, clothing and toys.

“With toothbrushes, kids come in and go, ‘Mum, can we have a new toothbrush? They’ve got one here’, and you know they’ve been making do with an old one,” she said.

Struggling double-income earners are increasingly seeking help but the issue is affecting Australians across the board amid skyrocketing rents and mortgages.

“We’ve reduced the amount people are allowed to take, as opposed to turning someone back,” Ms Retallack said.

But the charity could be forced to do so, she said, if the influx of people struggling to afford essentials continued.

On the east coast, western Sydney charity Dignity has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of people reaching out for help who are on the edge of homelessness or experiencing homelessness.

“I’ve not seen it at levels like this before,” charity chief executive Suzanne Hopman told AAP.

The charity has to rely on Good360 to supplement it with non-food-related essentials for women and children entering crisis accommodation.

“They’re having to make those difficult decisions as to whether to provide things for their family or to pay the rent for themselves,” Ms Hopman said.

“We’re seeing people cutting corners on their health and wellbeing and items that they need to get by with the income that they have.”

About 65 per cent of charities are unable to meet demand for non-food aid, underscoring the need for more help in that category, the report found.

The figures represented a frightening trend for charities that were on their knees and unsure how to keep up with demand, Good360 managing director Alison Covington said.

More charities than ever are coming to her organisation asking for non-food aid and the managing director is asking for more government support.

“You can’t keep asking charities to do the work without funding them to do this good work,” Ms Covington said.

The report comes as the federal government announced a $15.8 billion surplus for the 2023/24 financial year, the second in two years.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers denied suggestions the economic achievement meant less support for people struggling financially.

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie said an improved budget bottom line didn’t mean much for people dealing with the increased cost of living.

“Nobody’s talking about a surplus,” she said.

“How about you put some of that surplus out to us so we can put bread and milk on the table for our kids and do that without raising inflation.”