The ACT Council of Social Service wants the government to use the looming ACT budget to help Canberrans living in poverty.

The organisation has used an online forum with the Chief Minister to outline three main funding priorities, as the number of people living in poverty rises to 38 thousand.

ACTCOSS is calling on the Barr government to invest more in community services, address the shortage of affordable housing and provide more support for Canberra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.