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Around 2.4 million people including *more than half a million children* were unable to get the essentials needed to eat, stay dry, heat and clean their homes (before COVID-19)
A
on @jrf_uk's really important research on destitution out today
(1/8) https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/destitution-uk-2020
A
on @jrf_uk's really important research on destitution out today(1/8) https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/destitution-uk-2020
The number experiencing destitution increased by around *35%* since 2017. Around 80% of the destitute have incomes of less than ÂŁ70 a week
Cuts to social security payments reduced already low incomes & increased destitution
(2/8)
Cuts to social security payments reduced already low incomes & increased destitution
(2/8)
Very few of those who are destitute are in pensioner led households (whose social security payments were protected since 2010) and most are in working age households (that faced the greatest cuts since 2010)
Higher social security payments -> Less destitution
(3/8)
Higher social security payments -> Less destitution
(3/8)
Around half of the destitute do not live in their own homes with around a quarter either sleeping rough or in emergency accommodation.
Not having enough housing in the right areas is making us all poorer, some of us destitute, and the worst off completely homeless
(4/8)
Not having enough housing in the right areas is making us all poorer, some of us destitute, and the worst off completely homeless
(4/8)
Geographically, destitution mirrors poverty rates - high in former industrial areas *and* in London/major cities with their high housing costs
Easy to forget how much poverty there is in highly productive London & major cities
(5/8)
Easy to forget how much poverty there is in highly productive London & major cities
(5/8)
Finally, there is qualitative research on the impact that COVID-19 has had
Unsurprisingly, the five week wait for UC and the reduction. in housing related payments led to a rise in destitution
Also, unsurprisingly, reduced sanctions also led to a fall in destitution
(6/8)
Unsurprisingly, the five week wait for UC and the reduction. in housing related payments led to a rise in destitution
Also, unsurprisingly, reduced sanctions also led to a fall in destitution
(6/8)
Core policy to reduce destitution is to increase low incomes. Ways to do this:
1) Increase social security payments. At the least, keep the ÂŁ20 uplift in UC & extend it to legacy payments
2) End pointless sanctions
3) Build more (social) houses where we need them
(7/8)
1) Increase social security payments. At the least, keep the ÂŁ20 uplift in UC & extend it to legacy payments
2) End pointless sanctions
3) Build more (social) houses where we need them
(7/8)
Finally, this is a really important piece of research that gets to the places that normal household surveys (used by people like me) don't get to
So hats off to @Jb200Janice, @F_Sosenko, @BethWatts494, @MoragTreanor, and the rest of the team
(8/8)
So hats off to @Jb200Janice, @F_Sosenko, @BethWatts494, @MoragTreanor, and the rest of the team
(8/8)
