Photo: LDR/ Matthew Rosenberg
Social service providers working with Southland's most vulnerable say there's been a concerning uptick in people doing it tough.
Food distributions jumping at local schools, severe weather displacing rough sleepers and a stretched middle class are just some of the issues at play.
Salvation Army Invercargill community ministries manager Cathy Strong said it was "shocking" to see the number of new families coming through their doors, including a bump in the middle-income demographic.
Over a one-week period earlier this month, more than 30 new families reached out for help.
"I found it quite a sad shift to see how m
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