York households 'resigned' to cost of living crisis, report warns
Healthwatch York has said the increasing living costs are having a "detrimental effect on York residents' physical and mental health"
A new report has warned more households in York are skipping meals and cutting back on health eating because of the rising cost of living.
The charity Healthwatch York has surveyed 200 people as it continues to monitor the impact of rising prices.
It says York residents are still "deeply concerned" about keeping themselves warm, and are relying on foodbanks regardless of where they live in the city.
Other key findings suggest rising costs are also starting to have an impact in households that had previously reported as "managing".
The report also said: "Feelings of isolation are exasperated by not being able to afford associated costs with socialising such as transport."
Healthwatch York manager Sian Balsom said people are also becoming more accepting of the cost of living crisis.
She said: “Our most startling finding is that too many people are becoming resigned to going hungry, being cold and not going out as their ‘new normal’.
"Just getting by on less should not be accepted as the usual way of life in York in 2023.”
The report includes a number of recommendations for organisations across the city. These include:
- Exploring ways to measure and monitor the impact of cost of living rises on local people
- Making sure everyone, wherever they live in York, has information about support available and how to access it
- Learning from the pilot in Gloucester to identify whether it is appropriate to use NHS winter pressures funding to pay heating costs of people with long term conditions who are at risk.