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We've been talking to people in the UK about their experiences of #COVID19 It is heartbreaking.
We are still a wealthy country.
#Foodinsecurity is complex. #COVID has made it more so.
We are still a wealthy country.
#Foodinsecurity is complex. #COVID has made it more so.
Bill-68- White British male with physical disabilities, living alone--can afford food, but struggles to go out because he was attacked 30 years ago. Has been sewing face masks. Has no friends/family to help him so has needed delivered food support.
Rich -50- living with his wife and 18-year-old daughter; full-time carer for his wife. Before COVID Never used a food bank and was not food insecure. During lockdown, he was “living off basic rations” and would sometimes skip meals to make sure his daughter and wife had food.
Dana – 41-Domestic abuse survivor living in a women’s hostel, with 4 other people during lockdown
Is food insecure every month at the end. Has felt her anxiety and depression come back from being in lockdown, shielded; said she used to be a “social butterfly”
Is food insecure every month at the end. Has felt her anxiety and depression come back from being in lockdown, shielded; said she used to be a “social butterfly”
Lorna - 47- American woman; domestic abuse survivor. Now food insecure (wasn’t before COVID). Moved back from US to UK last year (2019) to leave an abusive relationship. Was doing contract work, but COVID stopped that. No benefits or furlough. Went to go back to US b/c...
She was going to go back to U.S. in Jan / Feb because her visa had expired but was so sick (probably COVID), she couldn’t board plane. So was stuck here with an expired visa – couldn’t work, no benefits. She spent months calling immigration and humanitarian services for help.
Carol – 71- pensioner; lives w/ 2 adult sons during. Did not use food banks before COVID. Financial situation worsened as sons were self-employed. They now just receive Universal credit & utilities have gone up with everyone in the house; pension that keeps them afloat.
Kathleen-50-suffers from a brain haemorrhage & bipolar disorder. Did not have to use food aid services before COVID; was not food insecure before, now is. Has been in a situation with no food in the house many times, very anxious about running out of food and having enough food.
Liam- 41-living on own in emergency accommodation; getting Universal Credit; recovering alcoholic. Was living with his partner and sons during lockdown, they were shielding, but then “went on a bender” as he is an alcoholic and got kicked out of the house. Now getting support.
Jerry-38-lives alone; on Universal Credit; gambling addiction, suffering from anxiety and depression. Food insecurity / financial situation hasn’t changed much because of COVID, but maybe betting more online because bored. Has trouble sleeping and is anxious and depressed.
Paul- 66- pensioner; lives with his wife; shielding, extremely vulnerable. Has COPD, only got 3 weeks of government food support so had to find an alternative that would deliver.
Martin -57- lives alone; on job seeker’s allowance
struggled to get food before COVID. Has been trying to get a job but struggling, b/c dyslexic and has trouble filling out forms. Can rely on friends for help, but feels embarrassed to ask.
struggled to get food before COVID. Has been trying to get a job but struggling, b/c dyslexic and has trouble filling out forms. Can rely on friends for help, but feels embarrassed to ask.
Mike-47- lives with a partner. Had to shield because has had pneumonia. Was struggling before COVID, reliant on benefits. Has run out of money to buy food; has skipped or reduced meals, now and before COVID. Tried to find work but harder with COVID (jobcentre shut).
Mary-32- lives alone, unemployed, on benefits. Doesn’t have any friends, feels like no one understands her and she doesn’t have anyone she can really talk to. Can ask her mom for help with money / food but doesn’t like to and doesn’t feel like she can depend on her mom.
these folks were mostly food secure before #COVID when crisis hit the state was not there for them. Rescue packages were not available to them. Their communities, who operate on a shoe string were.
