Poverty in Scotland is causing misery, with family breakdown, depression and ill health among the devastating side-effects, a report this week warned.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation published the findings following a community consultation in Fife and the Highlands. It wants more research carried out into the root causes of poverty after suggesting a number of “complex” factors including the effect of ethnicity are not properly understood.
Low-income participants from four different ethnic groups were quizzed during the consultation. An at-times miserable picture was drawn, with feelings of hopelessness and isolation commonplace.
Included in the report was a quote from a man identified as “white Scottish man, Fife.”
He said: “I am just depressed. I am negative all the time now. When you are on long-term unemployment you get negative about everything. It’s going to get worse.”
The foundation has called for a far more extensive investigation into poverty, saying it has a massive impact in Fife.
“Participants of all ethnicities … spent a large proportion of their income on rent for poor quality public and private housing and items such as heating costs,” the report states.
“Poverty impacted on participants’ ability to afford the basics, such as healthy food, good quality, affordable accommodation and meeting their children’s needs. They did without and reduced their spending.”
Family break-up was found to be relatively common.
“The stress of poverty strained family relationships, affected people’s ability to meet family responsibilities and led to family breakdown and division,” the foundation notes.
“For all participants, poverty led to low self-esteem, increased isolation and loss of work/community links. For some, ill-health and mental health breakdown followed.”
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The study was set up to examine the reasons for differences in low income and poverty among people from various ethnic backgrounds.
“All participants associated poverty with limited choice and opportunities in accessing food, warmth and accommodation,” the report said. “While recognising poverty’s complex causes, all participants emphasised economic factors such as poor access to well-paid, secure employment, because of economic restructuring and labour market constraints.”
The foundation found “ethnicity-specific factors” played a significant role.
“Pressures to lead settled lives, prejudice and low literacy levels increased Gypsy/Travellers’ risk of being in poverty,” it said. “Meanwhile, diminishing opportunities in accessing well-paid skilled occupations affected white Scottish men.
“Language barriers, lack of recognition of overseas qualifications, prejudice, discrimination and legal status made it difficult for east Europeans and Chinese to access appropriate employment or training and development.”
Asked what they would like to see changed in five years’ time if they had a “magic wand,” participants in the study unanimously wished for good jobs with improved wages and affordable, good-quality accommodation.
The “small-scale” study involved 32 participants. Interviews focused on participants’ perspectives on five issues: understanding and meaning of poverty; causes of poverty; impact of low income and poverty; coping strategies and routes out of low income/poverty; and “magic wand” solutions.
Two stakeholder groups from public and voluntary sector agencies were also consulted. The report’s authors say a far more detailed study of the issues is now required if some of the many problems raised are to be effectively addressed.