More families are seeking help with food and shelter from the Coalition for the Protection of Children.

The organisation is also seeing a rise in diverse requests such as “educational endeavours, children’s uniforms, summer camp fees, healthcare needs and the cost of birth control”.

Kelly Hunt, the organisation’s director of child and adolescent services, gave an overview of the Coalition’s growth before Hamilton Rotary Club, as well as its legislative agenda.

“Unfortunately, the number of people living at or below the poverty line is rising,” Ms Hunt said. “In a country that boasts one of the highest levels of income per capita globally, this is unacceptable and raises the question about whether or not we should have a minimum wage.”

She called for stronger laws in the representation of children whose parents do not appear to be acting in their best interests, giving them more say in key decisions on custody or access. Ms Hunt also weighed in on the contentious matter of debtors being threatened with jail time.

“We are particularly concerned about this practice because we have watched dozens of mothers with young children incarcerated for unpaid bills,” she said.

In cases where disputes arise over child custody, access or support, the Coalition continues to urge meditation backed by legislation, rather than turning to the courts.

“Mediation allows people to get what they want while enhancing rather than destroying their relationships,” Ms Hunt told Rotarians.

She added that the practice was “far less expensive and less time consuming than litigation”.