With the cost-of-living crisis now entering its third year, data indicates Australians are struggling to afford basic needs, deferring crucial healthcare and working 86 million extra hours to keep afloat.

New research by free mobile laundry and shower service, Orange Sky, corroborates the national data, revealing over half (57 per cent) of Australians struggle to make ends meet annually, with over a quarter (27 per cent) struggling as often as monthly.

The research comes as government data indicates household inflation rates have skyrocketed by 3.6 per cent over the past 12 months, with housing, food and health costs climbing by over 3 per cent in the same period of time.

The new research reveals three in five (59 per cent of) Australians have had to moderately or significantly adjust their lifestyle due to the rising cost-of-living, and one in three have had to dip into their savings just to get by, highlighting the increasingly difficult decisions Aussies are making to keep up with mounting financial pressures.

Orange Sky senior impact manager for First Nations Communities, Jude Meiklejohn, told National Indigenous Times the crisis is acute in predominantly Indigenous remote communities.

"Most of my direct experience is in those remote communities… the cost of living crisis is across the board, it's not just people in the cities that have had those significant changes, it is definitely affecting people in remote communities as well," she said.

"The cost of fuel, power, food going up – it was already a significant challenge for many to make ends meet, and it is definitely even more of a challenge now."

Ms Meiklejohn said a range of measures could be pursued to help people struggling.

"We have seen subsidies make a significant difference to the affordability of some of those essential items, that is one straightforward thing that would make a different," she said.

"I think what we (Orange Sky) do in providing access to practical, basic things needed for every day life is life-changing for a lot of people. Simply owning a washing machine is cost prohibitive for many, and when we are in communities, it is a really consistent situation. Providing better access; not just having it in a community but also making sure there is wraparound support for whatever services are there, to make sure they are adequately funded so they are not there for just a short period of time.

"Employment is a really critical part that we see as well. There is a real keenness and interest in being able to find meaningful jobs that provide a consistent income… in remote communities unfortunately the meaningful jobs that people have the skills for are not easy to find.

"It is multi-faceted and complex but it is really about pulling some of those levers which will reduce those disparities between those who can afford and those who are struggling.

"This cost of living crisis is driving those disparities even further, and there's systemic change that is still needed."

Orange Sky co-founder Nic Marchesi, Co-Founder of Orange Sky, said growing costs and expenses are placing "unsustainable pressure" on Australians, who are having to make tough sacrifices just to keep up.

"No one deserves to go without essentials – clean clothes, a hot shower and a safe place to sleep; however, rising costs are increasingly forcing everyday Australians to choose between living essentials, bills and rent, and people who may have never thought they would be struggling financially are turning to us for help," he said.

"We have seen a 21 per cent increase in demand for our services since last financial year, and this increase is coming from families, retirees, students and middle-aged women and men. Even people with current employment are coming to us for help."

The rising demand has seen the group launch services in five new locations, as well as 36 new shifts in already existing services.

Concerningly, escalating costs are seeing Australians not only struggling to afford the essentials, but also to find safety and security, with the research revealing more than one in ten have had to forego a meal due to a lack of funds, while over one in six have borrowed money, sold something or taken out a loan to pay rent or bills.

Rents have risen eight per cent in the past 12 months, and rental vacancy rates sitting at the lowest they've been in a decade.

"Homelessness can be much closer than you might think it is," Mr Marchesi said.

"These statistics are people – people that we see each and every day, and people who need our support. Homelessness can impact anyone, and as we see financial hardship escalate, all it could take is one unfortunate circumstance for you or someone you know to fall on tough times."

With the new research unveiling almost one in five (18 per cent) Australians having experienced homelessness, this National Homelessness Week (5 – 11 August), Orange Sky is encouraging those who can afford it to support their mission to help those doing it tough. Orange Sky is asking Australians to show their financial support through their Homelessness Week appeal at orangesky.org.au.