PNN – A review of the official statistics of England in the last days of 2024 shows that the number of people living in absolute poverty in this country has reached 12 million people and homelessness has also increased significantly; A situation that has been unprecedented in the last three decades and has faced serious challenges for the social and economic future of this country.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, according to the latest report of the British Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), the number of people living in absolute poverty has increased from 11.7 million people in 2023 to 12 million people in 2024. This statistic includes 3.6 million children, which has increased by 300,000 compared to last year.
Absolute poverty is defined as a situation where a person does not have the ability to meet the basic expenses of life such as food, housing and basic bills. In a country like England, which is considered one of the largest economies in the world, such statistics indicate a deep economic gap and inefficiency in the support system.
Homelessness on the rise in England
Homelessness, as one of the direct consequences of poverty, has increased significantly in recent years. Statistics show that more than 150,000 children in England struggle with homelessness.
In London, more than 183,000 homeless people live in temporary accommodation provided by local councils. This is the highest number of homelessness recorded in the capital of England and indicates a serious crisis in the field of housing and the ineffectiveness of government policies in providing shelter for the vulnerable.
The increase in poverty and homelessness in England has several reasons, the cost of living crisis and inflation being at the top of these factors. This crisis, which started with the Corona epidemic, continues to have serious effects on British households. As predicted by economic experts in this country, the inflation rate has once again been on the rise after going through a downward period, and according to the latest official reports, it has reached the highest level in the last eight months.
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The increase in energy prices following the war in Ukraine and global energy supply policies have also made many families unable to pay their energy bills. According to a report by the UK Energy Market Regulatory Authority (Ofgem), the average price of household energy bills will reach £2,700 per year in 2024. This figure is unbearable for many families and has led to an increase in debts.
Another effective factor in increasing poverty is the decrease in the real value of wages. Reports show that wages have failed to keep pace with inflation. This issue has especially affected service sector workers and daily wage workers.
The aggravation of poverty and homelessness in England has not only had economic consequences, but also widespread social consequences. Studies in this country have shown that children who live in poverty have less access to educational facilities. The inability of parents to buy educational equipment and the reduction of school budgets has caused the quality of education of these children to decrease drastically.
According to the Food Foundation report, 25% of British families are unable to provide enough food for their children. This issue has led to an increase in malnutrition among children and has affected their physical and mental health.
Not long ago, the Observer magazine wrote in a shocking report that poverty among children in England is out of control and schools in this country have to resort to housing, bathing and washing the uniforms of students. This English publication added: School administrators say that in addition to helping to alleviate hunger, they are facing an increase in the number of children who live in homes that do not have enough beds or are unable to sleep because of the cold weather. They warn that poverty has led to behavioral problems, chronic absenteeism and mental health problems among students.
The crisis is serious
The increase in poverty and homelessness in England in 2024 indicates a serious crisis that requires the urgent attention of the government of this country. Current statistics show that not only is poverty spreading, but homelessness has become a pervasive crisis.
Despite the measures taken so far, there is no clear prospect of improving this situation in the short term. Studies show that this crisis requires structural reforms, long-term support policies and increased investment in social services.
This is while England is struggling with deep economic problems after leaving the European Union, and according to experts, there is no hope of improving the situation until the end of the current decade. On the other hand, without these changes, the future of millions of vulnerable people in England will remain uncertain and challenging.