THE Salvation Army have released shocking new research highlighting the desperation of Australia’s most vulnerable people, with the survey of those who reached out to the charity for help finding over half (55 per cent) were skipping meals because of financial hardship, 57 per cent could not afford prescription medication and almost a quarter (23 per cent) were forced to eat expired or spoiled food.

For families with children, the situation is even more dire, with 62 per ce