UK charity Chief Executive responds to latest Joseph Rowntree Foundation report on poverty
London, UK – The growing poverty crisis in the UK has sparked a response from a leading homelessness charity, calling for a change in public perceptions towards homelessness and poverty as part of a solution.
On Thursday, January 25th, 2024, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation released its comprehensive UK Poverty report, revealing the alarming number of people living in poverty and the increasing amount of money needed for families to escape it.
According to the report, around 6 million people in the UK were living in deep poverty in 2021/22, with 1.5 million of them being children, 3.8 million being working-age adults, and 600,000 being pensioners.
The International Network of Street Papers (INSP), a UK charity representing The Big Issue and other newspapers and magazines worldwide that work towards tackling poverty and homelessness, has responded to the report. The organization, which oversees 92 street papers in 35 different countries, provides individuals in poverty with opportunities to earn a dignified income.
Mike Findlay-Agnew, Chief Executive of INSP, states, “The latest report on poverty in the UK paints a stark picture. With deep poverty worsening and reaching 3.8 million people, it is clear that some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society, including minority ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and lone parent families, are the real casualties of this crisis.”
He goes on to say, “It is time for all of us to acknowledge the reality. Poverty is not a hidden problem that only affects a small portion of our society. It is a widespread issue that impacts a significant portion of our population, including our colleagues, friends, and families.”
Findlay-Agnew highlights the need to change the narrative and language surrounding homelessness and poverty. He points out that the public and media often reduce individuals to unhelpful labels, such as “benefits scroungers,” and focus solely on rough sleepers, ignoring the larger issue of poverty.
To truly address the complexity of the issue and find solutions, Findlay-Agnew suggests listening to and learning from the real experts on poverty: those who have experienced it firsthand. He believes that this will allow for a deeper understanding of the challenges and the creation of effective solutions.
The charity also emphasizes that tackling homelessness is a policy choice and that governments must take responsibility for addressing the issue within their own countries. With the UK’s general election approaching in the next year, INSP calls for political consensus and commitment to addressing the poverty crisis head-on. Changing public perceptions and the narrative around homelessness and poverty is a crucial step in this process.
To address the global prevalence of poverty, INSP has announced that the Global Street Paper Summit will be hosted in Liverpool, UK, from September 9th to 13th, 2024. Delegates from around the world will gather to discuss and debate solutions to the poverty crisis.
For more information on the work of INSP and their efforts to tackle homelessness and poverty, please visit their website at https://www.street-papers.org/.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.