after campaigners called for the extension of free school meals‘As the cost of living crisis has got worse, we are seeing many more working families with children coming in for food bags,’ he said.
‘It says to me that even people in work, who might have been just ok in the past, are really struggling.‘This brings up the issue of encouraging people who might feel embarrassed to seek help when they are in crisis. Some people who have been just about ok are now struggling to say, “I’m not ok, I’m not managing”.
On the ground, Will said that there has been an increase in ‘hidden homelessness’ — people who are off the radar of statutory services as they just about manage to keep a roof over their heads. Established in 2010, the charity is meeting this growing demand with services including a foodbank, ‘pay as you feel’ café, warm space and general support to people who it regards as ‘friends’.
‘We are seeing an alarming increase in these people, who we call the hidden homeless. We spend hours telling people they are not sponging off the state or taking advantage of the system, and they should feel comfortable taking that support if they need it.’
I have to admit the process is part of this. For most you can't just simply turn up. You're required to speak to a 3rd party to get assessed first and then the food bank itself. You go through all your baggage with multiple people to get that help. For some that's quite intrusive
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