Poverty
Poverty as defined in the Collins Dictionary is: ‘the state of being without enough food or money’. Poverty and debt are inextricably linked, It is a vicious circle that can be almost impossible to break.
If you have no money, there is no food, so the temptation is to borrow it, but how does it get paid back, because there is no money. Poverty, caused by low income, job loss or the inability to find a job, invariably leads to debt. This is just about existing rather than living, we take for granted the nice new things we have bought, when some are delighted when a used three piece or bed is dropped off. And what about Christmas? For some it is simply cancelled, relatively easy for the adults to understand, but damaging to children who turn up to school without new trainers like their friends. The knock on effects can be serious indeed, bullying, exclusion, loss of self confidence, crime…
Poverty often leads to social exclusion. Social Exclusion is a shorthand term for what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown.
These scenarios can affect just about any of us at any time and seriously affects a person or family unit’s self worth and attitude to the rest of society.
Debt: The Problem
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in 2000, more than one million people approached local Citizens Advice Bureaux for help with debt problems
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1 in 10 households have no building society or bank account
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in excess of three million households are reliant on the services of moneylender, who routinely charge in excess of 150% APR for cash loans
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the GOOD news: there are now more than 600 Credit Unions in the country, offering affordable saving and credit to more than 250,000 people across the UK
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the average credit card balance is now £8,000
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there are more than 47 million credit and store cards in issue in the UK compared with 3 million in Germany
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money is the most common cause of arguments (44%), most respondents argued about spending priorities, particularly if not working, according to relationship charity Relate.
What can we do?
Pray regularly for those who are struggling. It is not always obvious that someone is struggling or in debt. Just imagine how embarrassing it would be to own up that you cannot make ends meet. Write to your MP to express your concern that the Government is not doing enough to tackle debt at home. Support one of the national or local charities that help those in debt and poverty, see below for some suggestions. Hold an awareness event, live on the breadline for a week and donate the excess you would have spent to a relevant charity.
Many turn to the church as their last resort, it’s a fact so why not have some Credit Action material available and help line number on permanent display (see below).
Donate Your good condition surplus clothing, bedding and furniture to an organisation or charity that re-distributes them to those in great need. There are also organisations that provide emergency grocery supplies to those who simply cannot afford to feed themselves or their families, so why not buy an extra tinned meal or two and drop it off. If there is not a depot near you, then why not consider becoming a collection point yourself?
Some Bible references: Proverbs 22:7, Isaiah 58:6-7,9-10. Mark 14:7, James 2: 14-17