Albury-based St Vinnies regional vice-president Paula Waters said there was an anecdotal increase in homeless women who had fled abusive relationships. 

“These women are leaving dangerous situations with nothing, and they need a great deal of support for themselves and their children to make a fresh start,” she said. 

East Albury IGA supermarket owner Bob Mathews, who has thrown his support behind St Vinnies, said issues such as domestic violence had always existed but were now more widely discussed.

Both Ms Waters and Mr Mathews agreed increased reporting of violence against women in the media helped raise awareness.

St Vinnies’ winter appeal hopes to remind the community to give year-round to the charity - not just at Christmas.

Money would go towards those doing it tough on the streets in an effort to rethink perceptions of the homeless.

Mr Mathews praised staff at St Vinnies for their non-judgmental nature.

“If you go to them no matter what happened, whether it be domestic violence or alcohol, they don’t say they’re not going to look after you,” he said.

“We can all learn a lot about being non-judgmental.”

Mr Mathews said he’d observed people were more reluctant to give money now than presents at Christmas time but that it was important to give year-round. 

He said he’d noticed increasing selfishness in the world, reflected in US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s policy of isolationism and the Brexit vote. 

“When you look inwardly, you don’t have the tendency to feel compassion for the people on the outside,” Mr Mathews said.

Mr Mathews was disheartened to see the front page of The Border Mail on Thursday, which included the story of a Lavington couple who allegedly defrauded the Border community by keeping donations which should’ve gone to a cancer charity.

But he said luckily St Vinnies was a recognisable organisation, which could be trusted.

Donations can be made at any St Vinnies centres on the Border and East Albury’s IGA.

Alternatively, visit vinnies.org.au.