ALMOST a quarter of children being raised in a single-parent family are living in poverty and there are fears changes to welfare payments are increasing the problem.

New research by the University of Melbourne shows 24.6% of single-income families are now living below the poverty line, compared to 7.6% of families with two parents.

The Salvation Army's Lieutenant Lydia Spencer said she believed those figures echoed the poverty situation in the Rose City, which could be shocking to those not affected.

"I think there are some people don't want to see that poverty is a problem," she said.

"They think if we deliberately ignore it and live in denial, we can just sweep it under the rug."

Tough new changes introduced by the Federal Government at the start of the year are being blamed for forcing more into poverty.

The changes mean single mums and dads are moved off parenting payment and onto the lesser Newstart Allowance when their youngest child turns eight.

Mrs Spencer said she believed the changes would result in added pressure, not only on the Salvation Army, but other charities.

"It is not just the typical mum and kids we see now, it might be a grandparent with their grandchildren and there are a lot more single dads now too," she said.

The Salvation Army lieutenant said she believed poverty was unable to pay for necessities.

"We only see people when they are at the absolute bottom," she said.

"They're not able to pay for food this week because they've had to pay the rent or the parents might skip meals so their children can eat."

Mrs Spencer said she believed more needed to be done to help single parents and others living in poverty to achieve long-term stability.

The Salvation Army assists those battling poverty with items such as groceries, blankets and emergency payments, and Mrs Spencer said there was nothing better than helping.

"You can tell the ones who are genuine and when you are able to help someone who really needs it, I think 'that is why I do this'," she said.