Jobless and Hungry

Many families are struggling to put food on the table as the coronavirus lockdown robs them of their income. A report by food bank charities points to an alarming rise in the number of people in need of essential supplies. 

Amie Smith and her partner Marcus were just about getting by before the coronavirus lockdown. Now they have had to give up their zero hours contract jobs and are relying on universal credit payments, food vouchers from the government and the occasional food parcel from local schools. Their biggest daily struggle is finding enough food in the shops for their four children, aged two to 13. 

"We have gone without meals so the children can eat. It isn't nice when you are feeling hungry and you open the cupboard and there is nothing in there for you."

The children are entitled to free school meals, which translate into food vouchers during lockdown, but they can't find anywhere to spend them. Amie says she has about £200 worth of vouchers, but they are mostly for upmarket shops like Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, which are absent in their South London district. Under the current scheme, run by private contractor Endenred, every eligible child is entitled to £15 a week in vouchers. The school or parent must choose a supermarket at which to redeem them, from the following list: Aldi, McColl's, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Waitrose and M&S. The government  recognises it may not be convenient for some families to visit one of these shops. It is "working to see if additional supermarkets can be added to this list". In the meantime, it is advising schools to prepare food parcels for pupils on free meals.

Many families - who may not have children on free school meals - are turning to food banks for essential supplies. This is putting an enormous strain on charities that provide them. A new report by the UK's biggest food bank network, the Trussell Trust, said it handed out 81% more emergency food parcels in the last two weeks of March, than at the same time last year. People struggling with the amount of income they were receiving from working or benefits was the main reason for the increase, the trust said.

"Like a tidal wave gathering pace, an economic crisis is sweeping towards us, but we don't all have lifeboats," said chief executive Emma Revie. 

Sonya Johnson, who runs Ediblelinks, an independent food bank in North Warwickshire, has noticed a big increase in families with previously comfortable incomes seeking help. These new clients tend to be small business owners, or sole traders, such a hairdressers or cafe proprietors. They are waiting for universal credit payments or money from the government's business loan scheme. The food bank has seen a 20% increase in demand week-on-week since coronavirus took hold.

"There are fresh faces coming through the door," she said. "People who really don't want to be here, who have never used a food bank but suddenly find themselves at a point of crisis." 

Debt charity Christians Against Poverty says one in 10 of its clients live without a bed or mattress, or skip meals on a daily basis. It, and others in the sector, fear coronavirus will mean more people living like this - perhaps for the first time. Payment "holidays" put off, rather than cancel, regular bills such as rent or council tax. There is concern people are simply piling up unmanageable debt for the future.

Trussell Trust, is calling now for a coronavirus emergency income support scheme. They say many families need money urgently, to prevent them being from being "swept into destitution".

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-52455776