The increasing cost of living is pushing vulnerable Perth residents to seek help from charity organisations, as financial pressures continue impacting households.

The Consumer Price Index saw a 3.8 per cent rise in 2025 and another 0.4 per cent increase in January of 2026. The index charts the cost of a typical basket of groceries.

No Limits Perth is a volunteer-run charity supporting people impacted by the crisis, including those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, the elderly and newcomers.

Co-founder of the charity Janine Wood says she is seeing increasing demand from people struggling to make ends meet.

“We provide practical help, whether that is through helping somebody start over, refurbishing their home, providing food hampers or community outreach,” she says.

Ms Wood says the charity receives requests from people who have been denied help from other organisations.

“Our criteria are that the person is genuinely in need of help,” she says.

No Limits furniture coordinator Leanne Rolender says she has also seen an increase in requests for school essentials.

“This year we have seen a larger increase in back-to-school backpacks, and this would be a cost-of-living problem as well,” she says.

Curtin University senior research fellow Dr Silvia Salazar says global supply disruptions and rising inflation creates financial strain for households.

She says many households are struggling because wages have not yet caught up with rising costs.

“We are seeing more and more people reach the limit for what they can afford and when that happens, charities become the place they turn to for support.”

Ms Wood says she is grateful for the community members who make donations and hopes they see the impact their donations are making.