'We've seen more and more people using our services' says Suffolk homelessness charity
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation says around 7 million people are going without food, heating or basic toiletries.
Last updated 26th Jun 2023
Emmaus in Suffolk is having to expand its services in order to accommodate the increasing number of people who need help.
This follows a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that says around 7 million people are going without food, heating or basic toiletries.
Almost 6-million low-income households in the UK are being forced to cut or skip meals as they struggle with rising cost.
Claire Staddon the chief executive of Emmaus Suffolk told us about the changes they've had to make to accommodate more people using their services.
"Our focus is around helping the poorest in society. So unfortunately we have seen a rise in services
"We've added extra days and extra opportunities onto our activities and we're getting a more diverse group of people coming and we're actually beginning to have to turn people away."
People are Just About Managing
Claire told us the cost of living crisis is seeing people with steady incomes just about getting by and they're doing so by being conscious of their money.
"There's a new group of people which called the Just About Managing, (JAMS') and that's a new phrase that's come in.
"It's becoming more and more common, that people are managing but it's not comfortable...
"It's a massive change and they are saying no more to stuff that we would have not thought about in a year ago."
What are people saying?
Claire told us that a lot of the people they see are already planning ahead to winter, and how they can budget now so they can afford to turn the heating on when it gets cold.
"Everybody we talked to is making judicious changes to how they make expenditure.
"We are seeing not only an increase in service users, but we're also seeing an increase in how they're trying to manage their budget in the best way possible...everything is expensive...
"The conversations we are having with people are much more about their financial worries and about debts that they've got. "
"That they are struggling to manage, or they have things they can't replace because things have got broken or worn out (and it all costs money).
Wanting to feel normal again
Claire explained how because people are choosing necessity over luxuries many people have become more isolated as they're not going out and doing things.
She told us Emmaus provides activities and spaces for people to share their worries and have a sense of normality
"We know that people are making people still want to have a life, that's the thing I think is really important to recognise is yes, we all have a limited budget but we want to still live our lives successfully and have fun.
"And so it's just about how you spend your money in the best way possible to sort of spread it as far as you can."
What help is there?
Emmaus provides services around Suffolk where people can engage in activities, take food that they need or have a meal with them and talk to people.
"Citizens Advice Bureau is great. We're signposting people to more brilliant services that are highly skilled in helping people with maximising their income.
"There are huge amounts of benefits that people have rights to that aren't claiming.
"So we're sort of conduit to kind of get people the right advice.
"We work with fabulous organisations that are and so we make sure that people are getting access to the services and the opportunities to maximise their income as much as we can.
"But if people don't come to us and ask for help and tell us their struggling, then we can't.
"The more people can be encouraged to start talking about it and be more open about the worries that they've got because we all know a problem shared is a problem halved."