Demand for Anglicare Victoria emergency relief services has increased by up to 34 per cent in the past year and a new survey has found that one in five accessing those services have no warm clothes or bedding for winter.

The 2009 Anglicare Victoria Hardship Survey also found two in every five participants could not afford to buy prescription medication and half could not afford to visit a dentist.

Also of concern is the indication that up to one in five people who access emergency relief suffer from a serious mental illness, which in many cases goes undiagnosed and untreated.

Principle author of the Hardship Survey, Dr Sarah Wise, said the study illustrated the vast majority of those seeking emergency relief are deprived of items or experiences generally considered basic necessities.

"About one in five clients did not have a secure home and the same number lacked essentials such as a washing machine," said Dr Wise. "These issues were often compounded by the fact that four out of five people had no savings in case of an emergency and two thirds had no home contents insurance."

The Hardship Survey also found those missing out on life essentials were likely to have suffered a recent major stressful event such as the death of a family member or a significant illness or injury and were at risk of serious mental illness.

"Of all the people surveyed, just two had not experienced a stressful event in the past 12 months," said Dr Wise.

"It also appears sole mothers experience a higher rate of stressful life events than others, contributing to signs of serious mental illness in almost 20 per cent of cases."

Demand for Anglicare Victoria's emergency relief services in the months leading up to winter was up by 34 per cent in Clayton, 23 per cent in Wangaratta, 21 per cent in Fitzroy and 19 per cent St Albans - the Agency's four busiest centres.

Anglicare Victoria is calling for increased resources to link clients to health and allied services, such as the development of a central intake and referral system and co-located programs.

The 2009 Hardship Survey involved 42 people and was conducted during the first week of April at Anglicare Victoria emergency relief services in Lilydale, Clayton, Wangaratta and the Melbourne CBD.

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