Unlike poverty, destitution is absolute (not relative) and is the inability to afford the basics to live. Destitution is defined in the Cambridge dictionary as the state of being without money, food, a home or possessions.
The report suggested destitution is “no longer a rare occurrence in the UK”, with parents in the North East limiting themselves to one meal a day to ensure their children don’t go without. The number of people experiencing these hardships has more than doubled in the last five years, as both the government and social system continue to fail those who need them most.
The report suggested destitution is “no longer a rare occurrence in the UK”
With the next general election right around the corner, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has called upon all major political parties to take action and make tackling poverty a top priority. They wrote:
“The Government is not helpless to act: it is choosing not to. Turning the tide on destitution is an urgent moral mission, which speaks to our basic humanity as a country, and we need political leadership for that mission.” (Kissack, 2023)
The foundation's recommendations to help those in need include the introduction of an ‘Essentials Guarantee’ into Universal Credit. This would mean that the basic rate of UC can never “fall below the amount needed for day-to-day essentials”, thus supporting individuals and families in the social system. The report also emphasises the need for government intervention in addressing the housing crisis, as well as tackling disability benefit support wait times and improving asylum-seekers support.
As Newcastle Foodbank braces for its busiest winter yet (distributing 36% more food parcels than last year) it’s clear that destitution continues to ravage England’s population. We urgently need a bold and obtainable plan to limit these hardships in the North East, let alone citizens across the UK.
Read the full report on Destitution in the UK here: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/destitution-uk-2023