Poverty and destitution are increasing dramatically across Stoke-on-Trent, and latest research has placed the blame at the feet of the government; austerity in the form of health, welfare, and social services cuts.
A new report from Staffordshire University, in partnership with York University and Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent, highlights the widespread poverty and deprivation issues that families and individuals are facing across the city.
Previously branded as the ‘Capital of Debt,’ people in Stoke-on-Trent have been experiencing financial pressures for years, struggling to maintain a basic standard of living, let alone repaying debt. But the COVID-19 crisis has caused more serious ongoing problems for residents in the local area: rising unemployment and huge numbers of people claiming Universal Credit and other benefits. Now, the cost-of-living crisis is making life even more difficult for even more people. Benefits are too low, wages are too low, inflation is high and rising, and something as simple as keeping warm is costing much more than people can afford.
This ‘Families on the Brink in Stoke-on-Trent: How austerity and the cost-of-living is driving poverty and destitution’ report explains how austerity is “driving the long-term cuts to health, benefits and public services” which is increasing the already critical level of health deprivation and lowering the life expectancy of those living in poverty.
“Millions of households are at financial breaking point: running down savings, going without bare essentials and turning to food banks to get by.” – Dame Clare Moriarty, Citizens Advice Chief Executive.
The report highlights that together with the “punish the poor” welfare and benefit regime, and toughening sanctions on benefits, people that are finding it difficult to keep up with work search conditions related to jobseeker benefits, the government’s focus on work as a route out of poverty is becoming ever longer path to walk. For one of the most deprived districts in the country (14th out of over 300 districts), Stoke-on-Trent also has one of the highest rates of people with low skills on low pay, further driving the major negative impact on those trying (and struggling) to live within their means, meet their basic needs, and pay their bills.
Case studies included in the report from Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent (CASNS) shine a light on just how this financial crisis is affecting local people. Rising rent costs, and increasing rent arrears are likely to increase homelessness and this is becoming a repeated tale heard by Citizens Advice advisors. Even two-income households are having to turn to foodbanks to help them get by, and sitting in coats, jumpers, and hats instead of putting the heating on. The ‘heat or eat’ question is very real for a lot of people.
The report concludes with the statement: “austerity is a political choice,” recommendations to the government include immediate crisis support measures, a “major overhaul” of benefits and welfare system in the medium-term. A Minimum Income Standard (MIS) would be a “welcome boost” to low-income workers in the city enabling everyone to be able to afford the essentials and meet their basic living needs.
CASNS immediate crisis measures include:
- An immediate cost-of-living supplement in addition to the announced increases and £900 payment.
- Targeted, and more generous, cost-of-living support.
- Increased local housing allowances.
- Reintroduction on rent regulations on rent increases.
- Housing act reform for Section 21 on no-fault evictions.
- Introduction of an energy ‘social tariff’ for vulnerable people.
- Locally distributed energy crisis funds for customers.
- More funding to help people on means-tested and disability benefits.
Families on the Brink in Stoke-on-Trent: How austerity and the cost-of-living is driving poverty and destitution is a report by Professor David Etherington and Professor Martin Jones from Staffordshire University, Dr Luke Telford from University of York, and Simon Harris and Sam Hubbard from Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent.
The report follows on from previous studies in the area including ‘The Pending Poverty Catastrophe in Stoke on Trent: How benefit cuts and the cost of living crisis impacts on the poor’ that had suggested that the current government cost-of-living measures weren’t going to be enough to stop the potential increases in poverty, deprivation, food insecurity, and homelessness within Stoke-on-Trent.
Read the new report here
