The human cost of living

Captain (Dr) John Clifton (Blackpool Citadel) reflects on the impact of poverty on families across the UK today.

In less than a month, the chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, will set out her plans for public spending in the autumn budget. She has warned that tough decisions will need to be made to address the nation’s finances. This likely means cuts to public services, especially outside ring-fenced areas like education and pensions, where the vulnerable will feel the greatest impact.

Take, for example, a young boy at our youth club in Blackpool. He lives with his mum and two siblings in overcrowded housing and has moved several times due to unstable accommodation. His family’s poverty reminds us of how deeply housing instability and economic challenges affect families across the UK. 

He often comes to the club hungry, and struggles at school, especially with reading. Like many of his classmates, the disruption caused by Covid-19 lockdowns has set him back, and he’s finding it hard to catch up.

This story is not unique. Current estimates suggest 27 per cent of UK families — some 7.5 million households with children — are trapped in poverty.

It’s clear to The Salvation Army that these reductions in public spending risk disproportionately affecting families who are already struggling, like the boy from Blackpool and his family, whose lives have been marked by unstable housing and financial hardship. Cuts to public services will deepen the challenges for families like his, already bearing the weight of low pay, homelessness, and food insecurity.

There are undeniable economic difficulties, but families like these should not bear the burden of political decisions. The cost of living crisis has already pushed many into deeper poverty, with an overwhelming portion of their income being swallowed by essentials such as food, housing, and energy. These families rely on public services, many of which are now at risk of cuts.

As Christians, our response to these families in need isn’t simply a matter of policy — it’s a reflection of our faith. Jesus’ teachings call us to care for children and protect the vulnerable.

In Matthew 19:14, Jesus says, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.’ The welfare of these families — particularly the children — must not be sacrificed to balance the books.

Proverbs 22:6 reminds us that we should, ‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.’ Families provide not only stability but also the foundational values that shape future generations. But how can we expect children to thrive when poverty deprives them of even the basics?

Our founder, William Booth, recognised the inextricable link between physical wellbeing and spiritual flourishing. He famously said, ‘You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.’

This is the mission that has driven The Salvation Army for more than a century, and it is why we are calling on the chancellor to take tangible steps to protect families like the one we’ve been supporting in Blackpool, and others that The Salvation Army supports across the UK, who need stability to recover from their crises.

These include:

• Reforming universal credit by removing the two-child limit and ensuring benefits rise with inflation to help families cover essentials like housing and food.
• Investing in early intervention programmes that tackle addiction and mental health crises, as well as expanding access to emergency treatments such as Naloxone.
• Ring-fencing funding for employment services to help those struggling to return to work, ensuring long-term recovery for families on the edge.

As The Salvation Army, we believe that every person should have the opportunity to reach their God-given potential, free from the deprivations of hunger, homelessness, and addiction. But these opportunities can only come with the right support.

We have seen first-hand how much families like the one from our Blackpool youth club rely on these services. They should not be left behind. Join us in calling for change at tsa.link/families and ensure support for all families in the upcoming budget.

In the words of William Booth: ‘While little children go hungry, I’ll fight to the very end!’

Reflect and respond

• Pray for the government as they grapple with decisions in the budget that may impact poor families.
• Join with the call on the government to act at tsa.link/families