Loosening the Grip of Poverty

'It is simply not right that we live in a society where so many people are locked in poverty', write the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in their UK Poverty Report for 2019/20.

The report paints a grim picture of life in the UK for individuals and households on low incomes. Although more people are in work poverty levels have risen thanks to factors such as housing costs, low wages and changes to the benefits system.

In work poverty has risen from 9.9% of the working population in 1997/98 to 12.7% in 2020.

Over the past two decades some progress has been made in addressing poverty amongst traditionally at-risk groups such as pensioners and children. However, in recent years much of this has started to unravel.

Amongst at risk groups disabled people are experiencing high levels of poverty, out of 13million people in the UK registered as having a disability 4 million are living in poverty. Out of 4.5million unpaid carers in the UK almost a million are living in poverty.

Households living in rented accommodation are also suffering, the decade long low interest rates that have been helpful to house buyers have brought them few benefits. Housing costs for low income households have risen sharply since 2000/01 with private renters being hardest hit.

Poverty is a trap that stifles lives, 7% people living in poverty have been there for two years or longer. Traditional narratives about 'working your way out of poverty offer them little in the way of comfort since some formidable barriers stand in their way.

These include not having enough hours work to make working really pay, costs imposed by expenses such as childcare and changes to the benefits system.

'Much of the world of work, social security and the housing market is designed based on decisions about our society's priorities,' write the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in their report, adding that ' we can choose to redesign them so they loosen poverty's grip and work better for everyone '.

Their vision for how this can be achieved involves action being taken in four key areas.

Getting more people into good jobs, many of the jobs that have been created in recent years are either poorly paid or insecure; in many cases both, more also needs to be done to improve pay and training opportunities for people doing this type of work. The benefits system has to be improved to make it more responsive to the needs of claimants. There is also a need for more good quality social housing and better rights for private renters.

As the Joseph Rowntree Foundation conclude lifting its most vulnerable members out of poverty is the responsibility of 'the whole of society, including central, devolved and local government, employers and civil society'. Adding that these partners must ' all work together for a prosperous UK where all areas are free from poverty'.