Caroline Springs Anglican Church, which recently started collecting tinned food instead of money during its services to help needy families in StAlbans, has had a "handful" of people lose their jobs due to the global financial crisis. Free financial counselling sessions have been introduced and are held monthly at the church to help people stay on top of their bills.

Reverend Lynton Wade said Caroline Springs was no different to other areas, with the financial crisis biting hard.

"We're conscious there are so many people in this area who have bought houses on mortgages and need a regular income to be able to maintain things. I won't be surprised if this year and into the next we see people losing their homes."

He said church members who had lost their jobs were mainly men close to their retirement years.

"These are men who have worked for the past 30 years and are suddenly unemployed.

"Generally they're philosophical that things will come good. With one or two cases it's been happening at the stage of their life where it's unlikely they'll get a job when they're over 60."

People who belonged to a church or knew their neighbours were better off as they could rely on help, Mr Wade said. "What worries me is the people who don't have those networks in the community who live in the house in their street but who don't necessarily know their neighbours.

"I think the people involved in their neighbourhood probably have a chance to be supported, helped and encouraged.

"It's the people we don't know about that's a worry."

The numbers of people visiting St Alban the Martyr Anglican Church in St Albans to ask for food and clothing have risen at least 20per cent this year, but supplies are limited, Reverend Faith Johnston says. Migrants, refugees and pensioners were among the people with the greatest need. Some had lost their jobs; others were simply "stuck in a cycle" of debt.

"We are seeing pensioners who own their home but barely make ends meet once something goes wrong. If the fridge breaks down or they have an accident in the car and they have to spend money, that just tips them over the edge," Ms Johnston said.

The next financial counselling session, hosted by Gavin Wright, is on July 30, from 8.30am-noon, at the Caroline Springs Anglican Church, 248 Caroline Springs Boulevard. Phone 93635989.