There's No Shame In Being Poor
Or at least that's how the old saying went.
But seriously? No shame? When you can't make ends meet. When you can't get credit from banks and other 'reputable' loaners and have to go to Payday loan companies or even less reputable 'funders'. When you have to get clothes from clothes banks, not even being able to afford the very reasonable prices of Charity shops. When you just can't put food on the table some days. Or you routinely don't eat so that your children can. Or you have to use Food Banks. All the time. Or you're in 'unsatisfactory housing', and afraid to push for your Rights as a regularly rent-paying tenant lest the landlord evict you and your children. When you have to walk your children across town to get them to school because you can't afford the bus fares and you've been 'rehoused' far, far from their school(s) but you want to keep some stability in their lives. Or you're sofa-surfing. Or maybe just 'making do' and dossing down in a doorway or somewhere you hope is unnoticed because it's currently safe and dry. No shame?
Or you're trying to work your way back up. You have a job (and it is a real job) selling the Big Issue. Or at least trying to sell the Big Issue to passers-by who look on you as a scrounger and don't realise a) it's your job, you are a small business, and b) it's a Really Good read. No shame?
Or you're finally clean(ish) and all your 'friends' and contacts are continually trying to get you to have a drink, or 'use' again - either because they don't understand how you are trying to get out, or don't want you to get out, or are so desperate for their own fix that they want you to buy from them so they can afford it. No shame?
Or when you now have an address (which is kinda vital for things like signing on and job applications etc) people look at it and judge you because 'all the down & outs, drunks, druggies, and other irresponsibles live in that postcode!' No shame?
Or when you can't get fresh fruit and vegetables because the local shops don't sell them, though they do sell highly processed stuff packed with fats, sugars/salt and e-numbers with almost indefinite shelf lives and you can't afford to get to places they do sell fresh stuff at a reasonable price. And people judge you on your diet and call it 'inadequate' and label you inadequate too. No shame?
Etc.
No, Dear Reader, there's no shame in being poor. None. At. All.
The real SHAME is that there are too many people, Real People, People like us, in these situations. In one of the wealthiest countries in the world, in the 21st Century. And too many of us have these attitudes. Or just ignore such people.
So what can 'just lil' ol' me' do? Can one person really do anything to make a difference*?
Buy the Big Issue. If you can find a regular vendor, so much the better. It can be Very Patchy round our way.
Pass your cast off clothes to local charity shops (if they are still in good condition!) Maybe clothes shop in charity shops in other areas - win-win that, you get 'new' clothes at a fraction of the 'new' price, the charity gets a donation, and you're breaking free of the often exploitative 'must have new' Fashion Industry, not to mention limiting the amount that goes to landfill. Seriously, Dear Reader, do we need new clothes every few weeks**?
Or buy new clothes from 'responsible' sources like Thought, or Oxfam or Traidcraft (other 'responsible' sources are available.)
If you have space - Grow Your Own. Fruit and Vegetables that is, though I suppose you could always try growing linen or nettles for fibre if you are or know spinners and weavers. Otherwise try to eat Seasonally - ie: what is growing in the UK at this time of year, rather than imported from the other side of the world. Maybe sign up for a Veg Box delivery (ours has just arrived. Cauliflower cheese tomorrow.)
If you can afford to, put stuff in the Local Food Banks trolley when you do your supermarket shop. Even get involved somehow in helping run a local Food Bank. There are ever more of them opening.
Or maybe the local Soup Kitchen, or some kind of community involvement, perhaps a cafe where people can come for a coffee/tea/lunch at an affordable price and meet other people. Help combat social isolation.
And definitely - write to your local council as to what measures they have in place and are putting in place to help such people. And to help people before they become homeless. It's much easier to prevent people falling off the ladder than to have to help people back on. And less expensive.
While you're writing to them, write to your MP and ask them what they're doing to represent the people in your area. Even if you live in the 'leafy suburbs' of southeast England, there will be people in these situations.
And write to the PM asking about the policies he (and Dominic Cummings) have in place and in plan for such people. Ask them to really think through such potential policies. We've all seen the results of some which have been dreamt up and applied, even in the teeth of expert advice that 'It won't work. It will only make things worse!'
Because honestly, the people In Charge are just so out of touch with what life is like at the sharp end, they haven't a clue. And they need to be informed. And to be informed that these people matter to the rest of us too.
*Yes, even one person can. And lots of 'just one person's doing their own little bit can add up to a lot. Look at the whole plastics thing. No more single use plastic carrier bags. Supermarkets are reducing the amount of plastic packaging they routinely use. People keep organising litter picks (now if other people would stop dropping the stuff!) Now even governments are starting to pass legislation to reduce the amount of plastic in circulation - for all most of them are still heavily invested in the petrochemical industry.
**I know it's nice, but look into it, please. We only have the one planet after all, and those who work 12-14 hour days for £1 per day (equivalent) would like a life too. Also think of they money you could save yourself.
But seriously? No shame? When you can't make ends meet. When you can't get credit from banks and other 'reputable' loaners and have to go to Payday loan companies or even less reputable 'funders'. When you have to get clothes from clothes banks, not even being able to afford the very reasonable prices of Charity shops. When you just can't put food on the table some days. Or you routinely don't eat so that your children can. Or you have to use Food Banks. All the time. Or you're in 'unsatisfactory housing', and afraid to push for your Rights as a regularly rent-paying tenant lest the landlord evict you and your children. When you have to walk your children across town to get them to school because you can't afford the bus fares and you've been 'rehoused' far, far from their school(s) but you want to keep some stability in their lives. Or you're sofa-surfing. Or maybe just 'making do' and dossing down in a doorway or somewhere you hope is unnoticed because it's currently safe and dry. No shame?
Or you're trying to work your way back up. You have a job (and it is a real job) selling the Big Issue. Or at least trying to sell the Big Issue to passers-by who look on you as a scrounger and don't realise a) it's your job, you are a small business, and b) it's a Really Good read. No shame?
Or you're finally clean(ish) and all your 'friends' and contacts are continually trying to get you to have a drink, or 'use' again - either because they don't understand how you are trying to get out, or don't want you to get out, or are so desperate for their own fix that they want you to buy from them so they can afford it. No shame?
Or when you now have an address (which is kinda vital for things like signing on and job applications etc) people look at it and judge you because 'all the down & outs, drunks, druggies, and other irresponsibles live in that postcode!' No shame?
Or when you can't get fresh fruit and vegetables because the local shops don't sell them, though they do sell highly processed stuff packed with fats, sugars/salt and e-numbers with almost indefinite shelf lives and you can't afford to get to places they do sell fresh stuff at a reasonable price. And people judge you on your diet and call it 'inadequate' and label you inadequate too. No shame?
Etc.
No, Dear Reader, there's no shame in being poor. None. At. All.
The real SHAME is that there are too many people, Real People, People like us, in these situations. In one of the wealthiest countries in the world, in the 21st Century. And too many of us have these attitudes. Or just ignore such people.
So what can 'just lil' ol' me' do? Can one person really do anything to make a difference*?
Buy the Big Issue. If you can find a regular vendor, so much the better. It can be Very Patchy round our way.
Pass your cast off clothes to local charity shops (if they are still in good condition!) Maybe clothes shop in charity shops in other areas - win-win that, you get 'new' clothes at a fraction of the 'new' price, the charity gets a donation, and you're breaking free of the often exploitative 'must have new' Fashion Industry, not to mention limiting the amount that goes to landfill. Seriously, Dear Reader, do we need new clothes every few weeks**?
Or buy new clothes from 'responsible' sources like Thought, or Oxfam or Traidcraft (other 'responsible' sources are available.)
If you have space - Grow Your Own. Fruit and Vegetables that is, though I suppose you could always try growing linen or nettles for fibre if you are or know spinners and weavers. Otherwise try to eat Seasonally - ie: what is growing in the UK at this time of year, rather than imported from the other side of the world. Maybe sign up for a Veg Box delivery (ours has just arrived. Cauliflower cheese tomorrow.)
If you can afford to, put stuff in the Local Food Banks trolley when you do your supermarket shop. Even get involved somehow in helping run a local Food Bank. There are ever more of them opening.
Or maybe the local Soup Kitchen, or some kind of community involvement, perhaps a cafe where people can come for a coffee/tea/lunch at an affordable price and meet other people. Help combat social isolation.
And definitely - write to your local council as to what measures they have in place and are putting in place to help such people. And to help people before they become homeless. It's much easier to prevent people falling off the ladder than to have to help people back on. And less expensive.
While you're writing to them, write to your MP and ask them what they're doing to represent the people in your area. Even if you live in the 'leafy suburbs' of southeast England, there will be people in these situations.
And write to the PM asking about the policies he (and Dominic Cummings) have in place and in plan for such people. Ask them to really think through such potential policies. We've all seen the results of some which have been dreamt up and applied, even in the teeth of expert advice that 'It won't work. It will only make things worse!'
Because honestly, the people In Charge are just so out of touch with what life is like at the sharp end, they haven't a clue. And they need to be informed. And to be informed that these people matter to the rest of us too.
*Yes, even one person can. And lots of 'just one person's doing their own little bit can add up to a lot. Look at the whole plastics thing. No more single use plastic carrier bags. Supermarkets are reducing the amount of plastic packaging they routinely use. People keep organising litter picks (now if other people would stop dropping the stuff!) Now even governments are starting to pass legislation to reduce the amount of plastic in circulation - for all most of them are still heavily invested in the petrochemical industry.
**I know it's nice, but look into it, please. We only have the one planet after all, and those who work 12-14 hour days for £1 per day (equivalent) would like a life too. Also think of they money you could save yourself.