SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 1

St Mary’s University College A College of Queen's University Belfast | Coláiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire

Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 2

2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to acknowledge the contribution of the authors - Professor Peter Finn, Dr Gerard McCann, Dr Niall Coll and Dr Gabrielle Nig Uidhir. We would also like to thank the members of the Working Group - Rev Tim Bartlett, Dr Nicola Rooney, Dr Oliver Woods and Mr Jack Doran. In addition, thanks goes to those who provided feedback on the document, including: the members of the Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs, the members of the Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, Mr Cormac Wilson, Regional President, SVP, and the members of the Social Justice and Policy Team, SVP National Office. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 3

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION 4 ONE - THE MANY VOICES OF POVERTY 6 TWO - THE SCALE OF POVERTY 16 THREE - FAITH AND POVERTY 26 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 30

REFERENCES 34 SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 4

4 Introduction

Poverty is a problem in Northern Ireland and challenging poverty is important. It is important for those who have to endure the day-to-day struggle of trying to make ends meet, for those in our society who are forced to live on the social and economic margins and for communities that have been systemically trapped in a cycle of deprivation and social exclusion.

Poverty is an aspect of our seemingly prosperous Northern Irish society that is often not prioritised by either policy makers or media, yet we live in a region of the European Union that has some of the highest levels of definable poverty. Child poverty rates are among the worst in Europe, poverty among the elderly is endemic, our new communities - often from other regions of the EU or Africa - suffer multiple deprivations, and those on low income find that opportunities to escape from the constraints of poverty are few and far between. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 5

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In January 2010 the UK The results of the experience of poverty has on government’s Equality Office individuals and families; the reported some shocking research state what second section examines findings regarding the those living in this the extent of the problem, extent of economic community are all the organisational and inequality in Northern governmental statistics on Ireland. They concluded that too aware of - that in the subject; and the third over the past forty years the an apparently section explores the position socio-economic differences prosperous society of faith-based organisations between the richest social in addressing issues groups and the poorest has there are individuals, pertinent to the problem of widened; that disadvantage families and indeed poverty in our society. Each has been reinforced across sectors of the section complements the generations and life cycles; other and each of the and that there remains population who are positions taken carries differences in opportunity, caught within worlds forward a strong message income, and life experiences of systemic from those who are in which suggest that current poverty and those who work policies and initiatives are disadvantage and to rid society of it. In order having a questionable economic to challenge poverty we impact on poverty for deprivation. need to invest in personal significant sections of the and organisational energies population. These findings This report has engaged to overcome both its causes concur with the dialogue with these issues in a and its effects. that has been ongoing over number of ways to go the past year between a beyond the normal In the final analysis, an panel on poverty at St quantitative surveys of ethical position should take Mary’s University College social exclusion with the us to a situation where which comprised of aim of approaching the people are actively engaging academics, St Vincent de issue from the position of a with those causes in our Paul and NICCOSA, the community dialogue. In this society that perpetuate Northern Ireland Catholic it explores three aspects of social exclusion and Council on Social Affairs, a the debate on poverty, each condemn people, families Council of the Irish Catholic focused on the idea of and communities to poverty. Bishops’ Conference. actively challenging poverty, Organisations such as St This report is the product of and which reflect on the Vincent de Paul, along with that dialogue, linking in ethos and community based other front-line agencies, conveniently with the Big approach taken by are in a unique position to Society debate initiated by organisations such as the energise the voluntary and the new Coalition Society of St Vincent de communitarian potentials of Government in Westminster Paul. society, as well as to lobby and the ongoing adaptation government to put in place of poverty related policies in These aspects are: first, a policies which directly the Stormont Executive. section reflecting personal challenge poverty. It is experiences of poverty and hoped that this report the effects that the advances such an ethical position. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 6

6 The Many Voices of 1 Poverty This section reflects the views and insights shared by research participants who work in a range of charitable organisations supporting people in poverty, as well as other participants who have had to endure the effects of poverty.

“The great whip of poverty…that great lash of hunger, the dread spirit that ever haunts the poor, reminding them of the hardship that is to come, deadening the pain that is present.” This was the Irish writer, Liam O’Flaherty’s description of poverty in early twentieth century rural Ireland. Surely, such problems could not exist in modern day society? Today, the effects of poverty are all around us. People are suffering in our relatively affluent society. What dims our senses? What relegates such a piercing plea to a mere background din in a noisy world? These questions demand attention if we are to face the truth of what poverty really means in our society.

Our understanding of poverty can be one-dimensional. Young people, in particular, are often treated as potential consumers by the media which tries to manipulate and distort their view of the world in commercial terms. Generally, there is a tendency to oversimplify complex concepts like poverty. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 7

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As part of this report, a group of That concept had not yet been This comment refers to those sixteen year old pupils in an fully understood by the young people who have left the urban school were invited to teenagers. care system at eighteen, suggest definitions of poverty. unequipped with the skills One of the community workers needed to survive as Some of the views expressed at interviewed for this report independent young adults the beginning of the discussion described the challenge posed having experienced dependency were: by the personal and emotional in a system and a familiarity impact of poverty. with a lack of empowerment. • Anne - “Having no money.” Commentaries and reflections • Ciara - “Someone who were sought to communicate “He or she has been taken care doesn’t have the things they the havoc and hurt embedded in of by the Government. need to live.” that situation. “Having a hole in Everything paid for. Survival • Darren - “Someone who the soul” was the harrowing skills have not been developed. doesn’t have enough money image used by one of the key He or she may never have had to survive in a normal workers in a charitable to pay a bill or buy clothes. And environment.” organisation to describe this then at eighteen he or she is • Colm - “Can’t enjoy life to state of being caught in the grip just sent out into society. Those the full – can’t enjoy life’s of poverty. The sense of kids are failed. Those kids are luxuries - because they are hopelessness experienced by going to fail.” always worrying more about the men and women who find their financial status.” help at the interviewee’s drop-in One young person who was • Donall - “Severe lack of centre, poses the most urgent interviewed referred to her material goods or wealth. challenge to its workers. weekly state benefit of £47.50. Living in extremely poor She usually spent it all on the living conditions.” EARLY BEGINNINGS first day. Essentials for a teenager go beyond a balanced These views were expressed Conversations with people in diet and basic clothing. A compassionately and poverty disclose a disturbing teenager caught in the poverty thoughtfully and they do give an reality: the crisis can often be trap is no different from any insight into the way our society traced back to early childhood. other teenager in that sense. views poverty. The most striking One of the workers in another They are exposed to peer and image is one associated with charitable organisation made media pressures, just as much financial hardship, excluding this observation: as their more fortunate peers. the individual from a more Basic life skills are even more comfortable lifestyle. In today’s “We have a lot of kids who have important to be able to manage financial climate, it is come through the care system, a very small budget, without understandable that the threat who weren’t fortunate enough family support, and to withstand of “having no money” is to have foster parents. They will the social pressures which palpable and affects the lives of fail. And they continue to set teenagers have to endure. many. However, the destructive themselves up to fail.” aspects of poverty leave people vulnerable and unprepared to deal with poverty or indeed to respond to it in all its forms. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:55 Page 8

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Many young people who HIGH RISK FACTORS Moving out of homelessness Poverty also intensifies at the have spent their Those in poverty are susceptible point of transition between childhood in care, have to multiple risks, which will emergency accommodation in a already known affect the manner in which they shelter and settling into more are able to cope with their permanent accommodation. rejection. The situation. These risk factors can Participants reported a high consequences of being also be highlighted as points of risk period, when individuals unable to cope outside intervention by those cannot access quickly enough organisations attempting to the help they need to survive the system, reinforce effectively deal with the causes independently. One staff low self-esteem and a of poverty. Risk factors include member working in a shelter vulnerability to being the following - but individuals explained the reason for this can face a number of these at period of vulnerability: led in all the wrong any one time. directions. “Poverty also sets in when Migration clients move from this centre to One of the workers in an inner An increasing number of their own accommodation. city shelter evoked another vulnerable people who find Community care grants take powerful image when some support at drop-in forever. Some of them can be discussing the professional, centres and hostels are sitting in flats with absolutely pragmatic response needed to newcomers to our society. nothing for eight weeks. No support people experiencing Extreme poverty confronts food in the cupboard. No poverty and often addressing those people who, prior to electric or gas. We will allow complex needs: leaving their home countries, them to maintain the use of the were not informed about day-shelter. Sometimes, the “Peeling the onion. Taking off restrictions that would allow best that we can do is give them layer after layer until you find them to claim benefits here. a sleeping blanket, but they are the real issue. Building a The support centres are maybe sleeping on a floor for trusting relationship. For most sanctuaries for many migrants, eight weeks, with no cooker, clients, it all began in providing a hot meal and other fridge or anything else, until we childhood. It is a mindset. It is help, but these people are often can get the Community Care self-belief…All you can do not entitled to claim social Grant through.” is…you have to keep supporting security benefits and find them. You have to keep loving themselves homeless if they them and you have to keep cannot get work. trying.” SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:56 Page 9

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Mental health issues During interviews with key Only when credit cards were Many of those who use workers across a range of withdrawn and the debt services at drop-in centres charitable organisations, the collector became more and night shelters are term “mental health issues” threatening, did she share her vulnerable adults. For many, seemed to dominate the problems and ask for help. mental health issues are very dialogue whenever obstacles One gesture of support, one real and very severe. Mental to overcoming poverty were response to her call for help, illness was identified as the discussed. Gaps in mental could not be enough to enable most challenging aspect of health and other service her to extricate herself from poverty that impacts on provision need to be poverty, but that response is people in need. addressed so that people with important, and a sustained mental ill health do not have level of support is needed. Many of the stories that are to be condemned to lives in This participant struggled in heard among people without poverty. this situation for five years. any accommodation She experienced the fear of whatsoever include accounts The ‘working poor’ and the opening official letters, phone of personal tragedy and twists debt cycle calls from the bank of fate that could afflict Poverty is also a very real withdrawing her overdraft and anyone. aspect of life in families her credit; pleading with an where at least one parent is ex-partner to buy new shoes Extreme misfortune can be working on a low income. for the children; dealing with triggered by an unpredictable Debt can become a mounting the horror of learning that tax set of circumstances. problem which is very difficult credits had been to resolve. Access to benefits miscalculated by Revenue and Mental health problems can and tax credits is limited Customs and that she owed result and are inextricably because one adult is in over £2,000. linked to feelings of low self- employment. Thousands of esteem, emptiness, children suffer in this All this time she tried loneliness and alienation. An environment. One to keep up an image important aspect of care that interviewee, a single mother is provided involves who had a part-time of normality, to try to collaboration between professional job, discussed lessen the impact on agencies, social and medical her embarrassment and her children and to professionals who provide shame in this debt trap. She support. kept the truth of her situation hold up some shield hidden from her extended to protect her own family. dignity. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 11:56 Page 10

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Poverty traps This Neighbourhood Partnership Group The predicament of a low income family losing responds to the growing number of entitlement to benefits can make the prospect pensioners in poverty by bringing a of accepting paid work unviable. One of the coordinated awareness campaign to the workers at a community centre reflected on doorstep twice a year. The initiative has her own personal experience: resulted in a subsequent increase in the number of people who have been helped to “My husband was out of work for years. I access entitlements such as Pension Credits, could have got a job, but we would have lost free eye tests, Attendance Allowance, etc. all benefits. I worked out that we would have Older people often feel stripped of their been £7 a week better off if I took the job, but independence by stark changes in that was before taking account of the cost of circumstances. A willingness to ask for help getting there and back. I couldn’t do it. I did can only be effectively encouraged when a voluntary work in the community during those sense of dependency or “feeling a burden” is years. It was only when he got a job that I was not triggered. able to look for one.” An informed sensitivity to the needs of The plight of older people in poverty, surviving pensioners in poverty or in risk of poverty was on the state pension, is another concern that very apparent among the community workers is acute in society. Older people often find interviewed. A further example of this their independence threatened by health, insightful response was apparent in one of the social and economic changes. The Community Centres where people can call for Neighbourhood Renewal Manager at one a hot meal. The lack of food or money for food community-based agency highlighted some of was certainly a problem for local pensioners the complexities in reaching the elderly and in who avail of this service; however, staff persuading them to seek help: described the loneliness of these clients and the role of the centre as a place where there “I really worry about those older people who is someone to talk to and someone to listen to have paid off their mortgage and whose their story. Community structures are families have now grown up and moved away. important in addressing the desperation that They have no income. They try not to use the often comes with loneliness. Such support electricity and gas. They think that they’re not mechanisms are often a means to reintegrate entitled to help because they have paid off the back into the community – be it through a mortgage. Many older people are so reluctant church organisation, community centre, to ask for help. They think that they are women’s group, or other community based asking for charity. If they can get by from focus. week to week on the little they have, they will do that.” SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:05 Page 11

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Christmas time was just after Christmas. This Others were just hovering mentioned at every centre observation was also made at above the poverty line when visited as a particularly the Neighbourhood they managed to access a difficult time for people who Partnership office: mortgage and now find are already very vulnerable. themselves sliding towards The following plea by one “Christmas is a difficult time. the trauma of repossession mother in contact with St This is not for luxuries, but and homelessness. This Vincent de Paul, throws light people having difficulty paying concern was raised by the on the dilemma: bills, getting food for Neighbourhood Partnership Christmas Day, getting new representative who was shoes or a coat for the already seeing signs of “My son still needs children.” hardship escalating in the new shoes for school region. This observation also and most of his The recession that has suggested a need for changed the lives of so many community action: clothes, including his people in the last two years pyjamas, are too has made poverty and social “There is an urgent need for small. And all of this exclusion a topic of education about money discussion or a part of daily management and debt by the end of October. life for a much broader management. So many As you can guess I spectrum of people in society. people in this area were able don’t look forward to to get a high mortgage two Many people who had years ago, when they really Christmas.” previously been unfamiliar shouldn’t have. Now, with with poverty now face the changed circumstances, they It is not a lack of “life’s threat of losing their jobs or are really struggling. I feel a luxuries” referred to by 16 having their homes real concern for those people. year old Colm which cause repossessed. Their income has fallen hardship to people, but a real suddenly, they face a real struggle to pay for basic crisis.” requirements, including those household bills that arrive SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:05 Page 12

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An unfortunate change in Staff in the drop-in centres members come around with circumstances was also articulate clearly their donations at Christmas time identified as one factor that appreciation of the support and Easter. We experience could thrust a family into given to them by others. One poverty ourselves as an poverty or onto the brink of benefactor that was organisation. We are open poverty. In one community mentioned frequently during every day of the year. We centre, for example, interviews was the Society of don’t close. The use of the bereavement was mentioned St. Vincent de Paul. Not only building is constant, so we as one of these tragic is high praise given to are always repairing and changes. The Manager individual members, but the trying to maintain things. St referred to a high number of voluntary work of university Vincent de Paul helps us. local families who have lost students on behalf of St They have also bought tickets parents. In some cases, the Vincent de Paul is selected as for some foreign nationals deceased person had been an example of how one who wanted to return to their the main earner in the family, organisation helps other home countries. For our but had no pension fund and charitable groups, as well as organisation, they are had been working for an families and individuals in absolutely brilliant and they employer who did not make need. One centre organiser have helped a lot of people pension contributions for described this relationship: here. They have helped employees. This adjustment individuals who have moved to personal circumstances “As well as the weekly visits into accommodation. They without a regular income when the students help sort have provided furniture for was recognised as clothes and collect food, them, the main necessities.” particularly distressing. other St Vincent de Paul SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:05 Page 13

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CHALLENGING POVERTY the coalman on a Thursday recalled experiences from night when he came to be their own childhood which All the organisations that paid”. She shared her depicted the hurt and were interviewed worked experience of shame and suffering that they had closely with a range of frustration during years when endured as children agencies, charitable she was caught in that themselves living in poverty. organisations, voluntary and poverty trap herself. She also These stories were not statutory bodies to try to described how she looked related to evoke pity or provide a coordinated forward to proudly paying her sympathy, but to highlight the response to poverty. The bills every Saturday morning lasting nature of childhood complexities of poverty and once she did manage to get memories, scarred by poverty. the many diverse voices of work again. This individual poverty seemed very familiar understands the assault on The insights gleaned from to many of these community human dignity that is made by these personal experiences workers. poverty. Her ability to make a add an invaluable dimension contribution to her to the compassion and Indeed, personal experience community now is enhanced respect shown by these shared by participants during by that personal experience. workers towards their interviews, working to combat Two other key workers clientele. They also provide poverty, seemed to add a interviewed from different evidence that the cyclical valuable dimension to their organisations discussed the pattern of poverty from expertise and long-term effects of the childhood into adulthood can professionalism. One experience of childhood be broken. They suggest that Manager described her own poverty. In order to illustrate hope is justified. experience of “hiding from this observation they also SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 14

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The voice of poverty is often unheard because it is stifled. It may be the case that the individual finds it difficult to ask for help. Poverty is still very closely linked to failure, shame and embarrassment; therefore, the responses sometimes have to be subtle, inconspicuous, gentle and informed.

These values are bound up within the strict code of confidentiality that is observed by support organisations. Another worker referred to the silent voice of poverty that can be just as heart-rending - her observations go beyond the caring world of drop-in centres and night shelters. They refer to the child in your street who goes hungry, to the family which hides from the loan shark, to the house with the empty kitchen cupboards. The existence of these stark realities can be denied easily. They are not obvious. Indeed, they are deliberately concealed in order to avoid the stigma of poverty. One interviewee raised the question of every individual’s responsibility to look for sensitive ways of providing support to others in the community who are quietly suffering poverty on a daily basis. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 15

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Stories about poverty often evoke emotion and However, throughout all the interviews and occasionally a pause at some tale or image. discussions, individual stories made frequent Indeed, images often communicate more than references to the difference made by an words. A key worker in a city hostel for men anonymous benefactor, a caring neighbour, or alluded to two different images which were a sensitive community worker. poignant and moving. The first of these was the daily sight of residents in the hostel leaving in the morning, carrying the totality of Poverty is real. It is cruel and their worldly possessions in a plastic bag. destructive, and in this recession it is becoming more widespread. The second image describes a man who is forced to sleep rough. He encountered this One ray of hope from the accounts depicted in man during the nightly outreach run while this section has been the sense of personal distributing sleeping bags and hot soup to responsibility and the empathy that has homeless people sleeping on the streets. The inspired action among individuals. This image of this man taking out an ash-tray from reminds us that we all have a role to play in a plastic bag, after lighting up a cigarette as the response to poverty - each one of us can he lay in his sleeping bag, left a lasting make a difference. Many people do genuinely imprint on him given its simple poignancy. care, but how many of us take that small decisive action, which can have such a positive Throughout the dialogue with the interviewees effect? In addition to the actions of individuals, and the sharing of professional and personal the government’s anti-poverty policies must insights that informed this section, the ability be embedded in order to ensure that poverty of individuals to make a meaningful response traps are eliminated and that the appropriate to the voices of poverty emerges as one of the services and financial safety net are available key messages. Many references were made to to prevent people from falling into poverty in the need for systematic changes, government the first place. investment and coordinated responses by various organisations. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 16

16 The Scale 2 of Poverty

This section surveys the data on poverty and highlights the key indicators and features that are presented by statutory organisations and non-governmental agencies in the region.

Before 2002, the local direct rule administration did not release specific data on poverty in Northern Ireland and there was no dedicated anti-poverty strategy in place. Over the past two decades the main government initiative on poverty has been Targeting Social Need (TSN). This was a budget allocating scheme which dominated government policy on poverty for the region since the late 1990s. As noted in the Kenway report, Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Northern Ireland, there had been an absence of official data on poverty in the region, and where data was provided prior to August 2006, it was seen to be “inaccurate”. Indeed, “errors” could be “found in the official statistics for Northern Ireland” and this has been reflected in the manner in which the governmental departments addressed issues relating to poverty. (Kenway, 2006, p.9). It is only after 2006 that the data sources for poverty in the region have been statistically appropriate for the effective targeting of resources and policy making in regards to poverty alleviation. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 17

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Historically, data on poverty joined the Community in 1973. problem of poverty within the has been collected by the Until 2006 it was designated as North’s population of Northern Ireland Statistics and having ‘Objective One Status’, 1,730,000: “327,000 people Research Agency (NISRA) and and together with the need for across Northern Ireland are while it has been useful in special additional financial still denied opportunities to collating census related support to encourage peace which they are entitled, information, it tended to and reconciliation in the including around 102,000 present unanalysed raw data region, this has meant that a children and 54,000 not linked to departmental large minority population have pensioners.” Out of this policies. There have been other suffered long-term and strategy a Poverty and Social sources of information relating multiple deprivation. This has Inclusion Forum was to social data collection in the necessitated substantial established with the intention region: the quarterly Labour intervention by the of bringing together relevant Force Survey (LFS), Eurostat, governments over a period of stakeholder groups. the universities’ research, and 33 years and has also placed voluntary sector organisations’ the region in a unique position Forum participants included: sectoral data collection. Since within the EU due to the local politicians; employers; 2006 and together with the aggravated levels of poverty representatives of trade NISRA data, each of these and its ongoing political unions; the statutory, voluntary databases has been used to conflict. and community sectors; social formulate an effective economy advocates and framework for addressing Two recent initiatives – one individuals experiencing poverty in the region. from the government and one poverty. The Strategy also from the independent New identified the government’s One central point emerges Policy Institute - have enabled priorities in its attempts to from most of the data the government and civil alleviate collection - society organisations engaging socio-economic exclusion and with poverty-related issues to committed resources to Northern Ireland has monitor patterns of poverty in specific activities. These remained one of the a more effective manner in the priorities were: eliminating region. The first initiative was poverty, eliminating social most economically the publication in 2006 by the exclusion, tackling area-based peripheral and Office of the First Minister and deprivation, eliminating disadvantaged regions Deputy First Minister poverty from rural areas, (OFMDFM) of the strategy combating conflict-related of the EU. Lifetime Opportunities. The exclusion through a shared Strategy highlights the scale of future, tackling inequality in This can be seen from the social and economic exclusion the labour market, tackling statistics gathered by the in the region. In his health inequalities and European Union’s (EU) introduction, Peter Hain, the tackling cycles of deprivation. Directorate General on former Secretary for State for (OFMDFM, 2006, pp.4-5; 62) Regional Policy since the Northern Ireland, gives an United Kingdom and Ireland indication of the extent of the SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 18

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Acknowledging the “scourge of poverty which Sustainable Development Strategy, Shared blights the lives of so many people in Northern Future, Sure Start, New Deal, Equality and Ireland”, the strategy outlines “different Human Rights legislation, and New Targeting priorities at different stages in people’s lives Social Need, which is a refinement of the old and the need for policies and programmes to TSN programme. Each of these initiatives be tailored to these specific needs and specified poverty-related interventions and targeted at those in greatest objective need.” each have had moderate impact on the The aim of Lifetime Opportunities, the increase in the numbers of people being government’s strategy on anti-poverty and exposed to poverty. This became particularly social inclusion, is to: “insulate people from obvious with the onset of the recession after becoming poor and socially excluded as well September 2008. as providing routes out of poverty for those who do.” (OFMDFM, 2006, p.8). The second major initiative that has been strategically engaging with issues relevant to Responsibility for carrying forward social poverty alleviation has been a web based inclusion policies at Stormont rests with the research initiative from the New Policy Central Anti-Poverty Unit - within OFMDFM - Institute. (www.poverty.org.uk) This broadened the which meets periodically and continues to potential for the monitoring of patterns of work on consultation around their strategy poverty. It introduced eight themes which were document released in mid-2006. With presented as indicators of poverty and targets OFMDFM taking the brief for addressing for intervention. The themes are: benefit poverty in the region as opposed to the uptake, employment and pay, income poverty, Department for Social Development, stresses deprivation and exclusion from services, to policy implementation can be seen. It is housing and neighbourhoods, health and notable that only two statements were harm, disadvantage in work, and education. released by OFMDFM in the first 6 months of The Institute’s Monitoring Poverty and Social 2009 which have a poverty focus - both related Exclusion in Northern Ireland 2006 has to fuel poverty. Other regional government become the marker in terms of longitudinal initiatives associated to the Anti-poverty and poverty analysis in the region. (Kenway, 2006; Social Inclusion Strategy include: the there was also an update in September 2009). Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, the SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 19

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The Kenway report contained expectancy (as examples) - Families and individuals are analysis of the European UK government definitions often affected by multiple Union’s Laeken indicators are usually presented in the problems: an inability to which present comparative formula that a household is in access social housing, for statistics from across the poverty if: “its income is less example, compounded with a Community on various than 60 per cent of the GB loss of income and family aspects of social exclusion. median household income.” break-up can create The report, importantly, That is a household with an difficulties almost attempts to survey data on a income that is below £16,224 immediately which include longitudinal basis from 1996 (1st Quarter 2009). This is income, family and personal until 2006. The document is a also an EU wide accepted stress - most of which is not regional report from a larger definition of being “at risk of” easily quantifiable. UK-wide initiative funded by poverty or of “income the Joseph Rowntree poverty.” In Northern Ireland Often problems are Foundation which is this represents 19% of attempting to standardise households, with most in this aggravated by a lack poverty indicators. This category having an income of access to standardisation has led to significantly less than the information and comparative analyses median. (Kenway, p.57) between UK regions support, be it financial becoming more transparent While the collection of data is or social and and authoritative for research relatively effective in community support purposes. quantitative terms - if there is transparency and regular mechanisms. While poverty is defined by updates – the experience of various organisations in poverty has to be seen as Crucially, the point of different ways - be it child more than percentages and intervention has to be poverty as a key indicator, finances. sensitive, flexible and access to education, or life case-specific for statutory and voluntary sectors alike. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 20

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The definition of poverty in the It aims to “encourage Republic of Ireland is involvement and political addressed in a different commitment”; “inspire citizens manner and in many ways to participate”; “give voice to captures more than just the the concerns and needs of financial effects of poverty. This people experiencing poverty is useful to note: and social exclusion;” the EU will “engage with civil society “People are living in poverty if and non-governmental their income and resources organisations;” interestingly, it (material, cultural and social) aims to help “deconstruct are so inadequate as to stereotypes and stigmas;” it preclude them from having a also has the objective of standard of living which is promoting “a society that regarded as acceptable by Irish sustains and develops quality society generally. As a result of of life, social well-being and inadequate income and equal opportunities for all;” resources, people may be finally, the initiative aims to excluded from participating in “boost solidarity between activities which are considered generations and ensure the norm for other people in sustainable development.” society.” (National Action Plan (http://www.2010againstpoverty.eu/?l for Social Inclusion 2007-2016: angid=en) Each of these points www.socialinclusion.ie/poverty) are pertinent to the situation in Northern Ireland. Significantly, 2010 is the European Year for Combating QUANTITATIVE DATA Poverty and Social Inclusion. This European Union initiative With this in mind, the release has provided a forum for civil of figures on benefit take up for society organisations and key sections of the population government departments to in Northern Ireland offers a compare and discuss the quantitative audit of the extent impact of poverty across the of income poverty in the region Union. The agreed activities for (based on the previously the year give an indication of defined measure of having an the policy direction of the EU in income below 60% of median regards to its priorities for UK income). challenging poverty. The other sections of this report will survey the qualitative effects of poverty and social exclusion. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 21

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General Statistics Children: Child poverty is a useful indicator of The May 2009 Northern Ireland Social the extent of deprivation within communities Security Statistics Bulletin noted that: and across regions. Between 2002 and 2005, • 28% (121,220) of children and young adults 25% of children were living in income poverty. in full-time education were living in (Kenway, p.63) By 2009 this was 26% with an benefit-dependant families. estimated 110,000 children living in poverty. • 19% (211,240) of people of working age (New Policy Institute 2009, p.3). In October 2008 were claiming a key benefit (job seekers the United Nations Committee on the Rights allowance or income support). of the Child specifically highlighted Northern • 16.6% (287,327) of people over state Ireland as an area where 20% of children were pension age claimed a key benefit. living in ‘persistent poverty’. The United • 6.1% (107,236) of the population were Nations’ definition of poverty is worth stating claiming Incapacity Benefit, those who have here: become incapable of work. “Fundamentally, poverty is a denial of choices • 10.2% (177,653) are in receipt of Disability and opportunities, a violation of human Living Allowance (DLA), those who have dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to become disabled before retirement age. participate effectively in society. It means not (NISRA, 2009, pp.3-7) having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not having Lifetime Opportunities noted that: the land on which to grow one’s food or a job • Northern Ireland lags behind other regions to earn one’s living, not having access to of the UK in terms of working age credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness employment rates. To remove this gap and exclusion of individuals, households and would require 56,000 additional people in communities. It means susceptibility to employment. violence, and it often implies living on • The current economic inactivity rate (27%) marginal or fragile environments, without is the highest in the UK. access to clean water or sanitation”. (United • Disadvantaged children are achieving Nations, June 1998) significantly less in terms of educational The numbers of children in Northern Ireland qualifications. living in long term poverty remains more than • Homelessness has increased markedly in double the rest of the regions in the UK. recent years. • Health inequalities between the poor and Northern Ireland has been singled the better off remain significant. out as the worst case scenario. • The risk of poverty is higher for individuals living in urban areas outside Belfast. Figures released by OFMDFM in 2009 attracted • 41% of individuals in lone parent families media attention because they confirmed the live in poverty. fear that almost one in four of the region’s • 30% of children in urban areas outside children were officially living in poverty. That is Belfast live in poverty, 22% in Belfast and where the government has quantifiable data to 20% in rural areas. confirm the number of children living in a • 33% of pensioners in rural areas live in family which has an income of under £16,224 poverty, 12% in Belfast and 16% in urban per annum after household costs are removed. areas outside Belfast. (OFMDFM, 2006, pp.22-3) The percentage that this amounts to equates The key identifiable sections of the community to 22% of children in Northern Ireland (96,000) that are susceptible to the range of issues with 12% (52,600) living in what the ‘absolute poverty’ related to poverty and social exclusion government describes as – include: that is living on half the average household income. (OFMDFM, 11 February 2009) SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 22

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Homeless People: Of the 70,000 children living in In 2004-2005, 17,000 households where adults are households presented to the without work, 50,000 are in Housing Executive as being lone parent households. homeless, 6,000 of these 31% of women with dependent households included children. children are economically (Kenway, p.91) inactive. The vast majority of The reasons given for lone parents are women and of homelessness further highlight those in employment their poverty related consequences – roles are mostly part-time or loss of accommodation (36%), low waged. (Gray and Carragher, relationship breakdown, 2007, p.18, 21) In Northern domestic violence (19%), Ireland there are nearly 92,000 intimidation (13%), current lone parents with 150,000 accommodation unlivable children. Between 20% and (13%), no accommodation 25% of all families in Northern (10%), other reasons (9%). Ireland are one-parent 50,000 people remain on the families. Gingerbread statistics waiting list for social housing. also note that: 60% of lone (NIHE Statistics 2004/05) parents are in debt. (Lone Parents Needs Assessment The Council for the Homeless - NHSSB - Lynda Spence - notes that 86% of homeless Gingerbread NI); 75% of single people are unemployed and parent households have no over 60% have been savings compared to 41% of all unemployed for over three households in NI (Family years. 60% have low or no Resources Survey 2004/05); 67% qualifications, putting over 80% live in rented accommodation of job vacancies beyond reach. (NI Census 2001); and 67% of (NIAPN, 2009, p.10) lone parents live on an average Government policies of £156 per week (New TSN). prioritising the private rented (www.gingerbreadni.org/Factfile.htm) sector have also meant Minority Ethnic Groups: increased pressure on the Between June 2006 and June massively under-resourced 2007, 32,000 people came to social housing sector. As a settle in Northern Ireland. 8% result, demand for social (1,900) of all births in that year housing has risen, with the were to foreign nationals number of applicants on the (that is, not Irish or British). waiting list going up from This rose to 18% in the 36,350 in 2006 to 38,923 in Dungannon area. Polish 2008. (www.nihe.gov.uk) migrants have been the largest Lone Parents: Between 2002 of the new communities - and 2005, 40% (25,000) of lone accounting for 60% of recent parents were living in income migration. (DFP, July 2008 Briefing) The total minority poverty. (Kenway, p.65) ethnic population in the region is estimated to be upwards of 60,000, or 3.5% of the population. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 23

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In June 2005, the Department 50% of older people live in fuel of Health, Social Services and poverty in Northern Ireland. By Public Safety estimated that 2006, 34% of all households there were in the region of were in fuel poverty, while the 3,000 and 12,000 cost of domestic electricity “undocumented” migrant increased by 36% between workers in Northern Ireland. January 2008 and October (Concordia, p.3, 11) 2008. The cost of domestic Affordable housing is a natural gas increased by 19% particular problem, with between January 2008 and homelessness and October 2008. The rate of fuel overcrowding an additional poverty in Northern Ireland is aspect of poverty within the almost three times that of minority ethnic communities. England.(www.consumercouncil.org In November 2009, a report by .uk/key-issues/fuel-poverty/) the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) The Working Poor and those in revealed that Polish people Income Poverty: One in five of were three times more likely to the population, 19% (200,000) be unemployed than Northern of working age adults, receive Irish people. an out-of-work benefit. In GB the average is 13%. “Northern Older People: Between 2002 Ireland has a higher proportion and 2005, 40% (100,000) of of households who are in single pensioners and 20% of receipt of tax credits than any couples received no income of the Great Britain regions.” beyond the state pension. This (Kenway, pp.27, 36) is twice the GB average. While the rate has fallen, 20% of 31% of the working–age pensioners were still living in population are not in paid poverty. (Kenway, p.31, 61) work. This is higher than any of According to census-based the GB regions. (Kenway, p.41) projections, by 2020, 21% of the While pre-recession figures population (381,000) will be of showed a drop in retirement age. unemployment by almost half (OFMDFM, 2006, p.58) between 1995/6 and 2005/06 (from 75,000 to 35,000), this Fuel poverty is a particular process is being rapidly concern in Northern Ireland, reversed with mass with almost a quarter of redundancies during 2009. households in fuel poverty in (Kenway, p.45) 2009. Older people are particularly susceptible to fuel Of those in employment 22% poverty - that is where more were paid below £6.50 per than 10% of income is spent on hour, the minimum wage at household heating. In 2004, that date (2006). 40% of pensioners were in fuel poverty. (NIHE, 2004) SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:07 Page 24

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“Over the period 2002/03 to 2004/05, 20 per who received DLA 36% noted that a friend or cent of the population of Northern Ireland relative had been injured or killed during the were living in income poverty, equivalent to conflict. (Kenway, p.111) around 350,000 people… just four GB regions have lower rates.” 28% of households lack a Poverty and long-term illness are linked: bank account. (Kenway, p.57, 75) “Poverty is significantly related to gender and limiting long-term illness. Men (37%) or It is those with debt commitments who are women (41%) with a limiting long-term illness spending up to 50% of their income to service are at a greater risk of poverty than those debt - represented 10% of the population. men (18%) or women (23%) who do not have a (OFMDFM, 2006). This section of the population limiting long-term illness.” is particularly vulnerable to recession. A final (Scullion and Hillyard, 2005, p.7) related indicator is educational attainment. In Northern Ireland 22% of the working age FACING RECESSION population lack any qualifications, which is higher than GB in every age group. From the last economic quarter in 2008, an (Kenway, p.137) unprecedented contraction took place in the regional economy, following on from the Those in Ill-health: In 2006 those with a collapse of significant sectors in the banking, disability or on long-term sick leave financial services, construction, and retail represented four-fifths (110,000) of long-term industries. The recession continued through benefit recipients. “Across the Northern 2009 and is expected to continue for some Ireland districts, the proportion of working time before showing any indication of genuine age people suffering from a limiting recovery. The impact on Northern Ireland has long-term illness ranged from 22 per cent in been significant and compounded by the Strabane to 13 per cent in North Down. extent of the contraction in the economy in the The proportion in Belfast (20 per cent) places Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland it among those districts with the highest has suffered the highest unemployment rates.” (Kenway, p.29, p.109) numbers in its history with key economic sectors (construction, financial services, Three times the number of people (2.9% in banking) virtually collapsing. In human terms, 2006) in Northern Ireland received DLA for the recession has meant 100 people losing mental health reasons than in GB. Of those their jobs every day and by June 2009, 400,000 SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:09 Page 25

25 were on the “live register” of unemployed in Stephen Kingon, the Chair of Invest Northern the Republic. In the North, the high levels of Ireland commented: “I do not think we will be public subvention and public sector spared any harsh realities. It is going to be a involvement in the economy have cushioned tight decade or two.” the extent of the economic shock that came (Belfast Telegraph, 16 June 2009) with the recession elsewhere. In the North the most visible aspect of the recession has been Accounting for the already formidable the closure or rundown of high profile private problems relating to the regionally peripheral sector companies which had been drivers of position of Northern Ireland, the legacy of the regional economic development (Visteon, conflict, high levels of poverty, unemployment, Seagate, Zavvi, Shorts, Nortel, Woolworths, and house repossessions, it is anticipated that Adams), with job losses averaging 1,000 per the outworking of this recession will bring month. Between May 2008 and May 2009 additional complications to already stressed there was a 159% increase in redundancies governmental and voluntary sector attempts with 49,000 people unemployed - an 11,000 at intervention. increase on the previous year. (Belfast Telegraph, 13 May 2009) In effect, an already difficult situation for many people will This will be added to by an anticipated contraction within the public sector in 2011 become worse and the numbers and the job cuts related to the estimated who are subjected to poverty and billions necessary in savings that the social exclusion will increase as government of Northern Ireland is intending to make in the financial year 2011-2012. With long as the recession continues. this single sector of the economy in Northern Ireland employing 32% (222,000) of the With this in mind the poverty generated by a working population, income poverty will be prolonged recession urgently needs to be visited upon many additional thousands of planned for by government and voluntary families. The anticipated cuts could mean a sector organisations. further 20,000 people unemployed. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 26

26 Faith and 3 Poverty

This section identifies some of the main theological and social principles which underpin the work of faith-based organisations such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul: providing support and friendship, promoting self sufficiency and working for social justice. (www.svp.ie)

A deeper awareness of the reality of poverty locally and globally is emerging in the face of the current economic challenges. Crises in the world’s financial and economic systems and growing unemployment add greater urgency and present challenges to communities everywhere. Christians of all traditions, mindful of the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, have a sense of public responsibility and community. Their ethos has implications for social structures and they are often to the fore in seeking to alleviate and eradicate poverty. This is in spite of a widespread tendency to empty religious faith of its public and political dimensions, reducing it largely to the sphere of personal and family morality.

The Bible reminds us that the poor are God’s chosen ones. The Hebrew Scriptures teach that the sign of the observance of the covenant is a real care for the poor and the weak. (e.g. Exodus 20: 22f, Amos 5:11-12) SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 27

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The New Testament builds on In his first encyclical letter WHAT IS CATHOLIC SOCIAL and enriches the Old Deus Caritas est (2006) Pope TEACHING? Testament’s teaching about Benedict XVI emphasised the the poor. Church’s ministry to those in Catholic Social Teaching need and identified it as emphasises the central place Jesus grew up as one of the pertaining to the very identity of justice in personal and common people, and his of the Church: social relationships. This ministry was for the most teaching is grounded, of part directed towards them. “The Church's deepest nature course, in the values of He came “to bring good news is expressed in her three-fold Judeo-Christian religious to the poor, to proclaim responsibility: of proclaiming experience which are liberty to captives.” the word of God, celebrating reflected in the Scriptures (Lk 4:18-21) Jesus in his the sacraments, and and the Church’s lived ministry had special concern exercising the ministry of tradition. Its fundamental for the poor, dejected and charity. These duties principles are directed not those excluded from society. presuppose each other and just to Catholics, but to (e.g. Lk 17: 11-19) are inseparable. For the everyone in the Christian Church, charity is not a kind tradition and to people of Concern for both of welfare activity which could goodwill everywhere. They are charity and justice equally well be left to others, thus not characteristically but is a part of her nature, an formulated on the basis of a should be of the indispensable expression of specifically Catholic or utmost importance to her very being.” (n. 25) Christian outlook, but draw on all who call a language and philosophy There is the recognition that which may resonate with themselves the practice of the Christian peoples of all faiths and none. Christians. faith has concrete social Pope Benedict XVI has consequences within the recently published a social Catholic Church, especially encyclical, Caritas in Veritate Thus, for example, the World since the nineteenth century. (2009) and this encyclical has Synod of Catholic Bishops in It has led to the emergence of been widely praised in media 1971 - representing a a substantial and evolving and political circles watershed in the body of literature referred to internationally as an interpretation of the as Catholic Social Teaching insightful and comprehensive teachings of the Second and this developing teaching reflection on Catholic thinking Vatican Council (1962-65) - has informed the outreach to on economic activity, declared that: “Action on the poor by almost a million business, and social justice. behalf of justice and volunteers in the Society of St (see Donal Dorr, p.463) participation in the Vincent de Paul in 132 It crucially links economic transformation of the world countries globally, as well as development to poverty fully appear to us as a other Church based agencies. alleviation. constitutive dimension of preaching the Gospel.” (Justice in the World) SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 28

28 The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace The second principle concerns the common in its 2004 Compendium of the Social good and builds on the understanding that Doctrine of the Church encapsulated what it the human person is both sacred and social. termed the four “permanent principles” - The communitarian character of human drawing from scripture and the tradition of existence means that the good of each the Church - of Catholic Social Teaching, person is bound up with the good of the namely, the dignity of the person, the community. (Compendium, 167) The Second common good, subsidiarity and solidarity. Vatican Council expressed this well when it These principles offer a powerful antidote to stated that humans were created by God not the ills and injustices caused by the to live life in isolation but for the formation of machinations of unfettered capitalism (so social unity. (Gaudium et Spes, n.32) We realise much in the public eye at the moment) and our human dignity and rights through our valuable perspectives on what government relationship with others in community. The and society in general should prioritise in way in which society is organised, in terms of terms of both social and economic policies. politics, economics, law, the environment and social policy directly affect human dignity and EXPLORING THE FOUR KEY PRINCIPLES OF our capacity as human beings to flourish. CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING The third principle is subsidiarity. Its focus is The first principle is the dignity of the human the need to enhance participation for the person. Human beings are created in the sake of the common good. It assumes the image of God and have a dignity that is natural right to associate and organise in expressed in many ways. They are both body society. It recognises that the primary and soul; they are by nature open to God, relationships in society are family and small unique and social. They have an essential social groups. Thus individuals do not exist equality and freedom. Created by God, all for the state but rather the state exists for the persons have rights that are “universal, well-being of individuals and families inviolable, inalienable” (Compendium, n.153) as entrusted to its care. It seeks to empower well as reciprocal duties. Before God they are people at the local level and to emphasise the all equal, no matter their race, sex, class or person as opposed to an instrumentalising creed. The Catechism of the Catholic Church bureaucracy. Subsidiarity implies that nothing enunciates this point succinctly when it should be done or imposed at a higher level teaches: “Created in the image of the one that can be done or fulfilled as well or even God and equally endowed with rational souls, more effectively at the local level, namely at all [people] have the same nature and the point closest to where it will have its origin…all enjoy an equal dignity.” (CCC, 1934) immediate and greatest impact. (see Pope John Paul II, 1991, n.48) SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 29

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The fourth principle is solidarity. It holds that The intermediate groups, in their turn, should there is an essential bond between all people. not selfishly insist on their particular This is more and more evident in our interests, but respect the interests of others.” globalised world where we are increasingly (1987, n.39) interdependent. (Compendium, 193) This was a theme particularly favoured by Pope John The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Paul II. He insisted that solidarity is “not a Church (n.73) also asserts that there are three feeling of vague compassion or shallow levels of Catholic Social Teaching, which distress at the misfortunes of so many might be summarised as those concerning people, both near and far”, but, on the the heart, head and hands respectively. The contrary, “a firm and persevering first is to motivate people to care and to act. determination to commit oneself to the The second concerns the norms, principles common good; that is to say to the good of all and themes that help people to interpret and of each individual, because we are all reality and discern courses of action. The third really responsible for all.” (1987, n.38) level is the call to live out these norms concretely in everyday life. He then went on to say: These principles inform the work of the “The exercise of solidarity within each society Society of St Vincent de Paul in Northern is valid when its members recognise one Ireland as elsewhere and they allow its another as persons. Those who are more volunteers to contribute in a distinctive influential, because they have a greater share manner to the common good. Their contact at of goods and common services, should feel such close-quarters with the poor and responsible for the weaker and be ready to marginalised mean that they have developed a share with them all they possess. particular knowledge and expertise which Those who are weaker, for their part, in the government and other state agencies can same spirit of solidarity, should not adopt a profitably draw from in formulating and purely passive attitude or one that is implementing policies and strategies to tackle destructive of the social fabric, but, while poverty and related issues. claiming their legitimate rights, should do what they can for the good of all. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 14:17 Page 30

30 Conclusions & Recommendations

As with other faith-based organisations the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul has been working across Irish society to carry social justice to vulnerable and deprived communities who have suffered multiple deprivation.

The experience of the staff and volunteers places the charity in a unique position within Irish society to assess the extent of social exclusion and many individuals’ struggles to overcome poverty. This situation has been compounded by the recession which, in Northern Ireland, as with other places, has left an estimated one in three of the adult population economically inactive. The recession coupled with the ongoing problems related to economic and social exclusion has merely added to the severity of the situation.

In engaging with these issues the Society of St Vincent de Paul and other faith-based organisations have highlighted a number of points of intervention which could assist organisations such as themselves in targeting poverty under the current circumstances. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 31

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These include: • Addressing income poverty. This is based The recession has caused immense hardship on the belief that poverty is not inevitable for many families and this is reflected in the and that there are ways “to ensure that stress placed on communities and policies can be implemented to tackle neighbourhoods throughout Northern Ireland. income poverty.” (SVP, 2009a) With this cycle of economic instability set to • Ensuring that vulnerable people have continue for years to come the problems that access to services. This would include affect vulnerable families and individuals are providing support for access to quality intensifying. The inequalities between those education, health, housing services and who have so far weathered the storm of financial services. recession and those who have not, reflects on • Building community. This is achieved by political and economic leaders struggling to overcoming the problems related to control a volatile economy. isolation, social exclusion and loneliness – problems which are highlighted by the While in the pre-recession period there was a experiences of migrants, the elderly, those sense of, and evidence of, poverty being with physical and intellectual disabilities, addressed, in the current climate with and lone parents. It means investing in thousands of job losses, house repossessions community support structures. and increased homelessness, child poverty • Advocating on behalf of those in poverty. rates among the highest in the UK and Attempting to change government policies Ireland, and things set to get worse, the to be actively anti-poverty and supporting concept of ‘joined up government’ is more individuals and families who are having important now than in decades. difficulty with government agencies. Supporting agencies need to create the Social partnership with charities such as the space for those in poverty to come to terms Society and similar organisations can provide with their circumstances in a way that an opportunity to confront the effects of encourages them to seek to change those poverty and recession, until the recovery can circumstances. be registered. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 32

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Working at community and family level in The voices of those who are Northern Ireland there is a general aspiration towards the eradication of poverty from Irish affected by poverty should be society. Indeed, this should be the stated enabled and empowered to bring objective of all organisations challenged by the issues alive to civic society and this injustice. The possibilities are there to engage with poverty, but these demand the our politicians in particular. right will and the proper allocation of resources. However, such initiatives are • There should be pressure on our politicians dependent on the goodwill of various agencies and policy makers to ensure that the working in this field and agencies need elimination of poverty and social exclusion partnership to carry this vision forward. are the most important issues being addressed in a recessionary period. To quote the Society’s paper ‘Submission to • In the midst of recession capital investment Strengthening Families Strategy’: “As the in housing security through social housing largest charity in Ireland working with people should be prioritised; benefit security experiencing multiple and emerging forms of should be supportive in overcoming poverty poverty, exclusion and inequalities, the and not contributing to poverty; children Society is a daily witness to the stresses and should be provided with a framework of strains of families living on the margins of our support mechanisms to give them the best society. Its privileged position close to the possible opportunity through schooling and heart of disadvantaged families allows it an into adulthood irrespective of their social unfiltered view of how government services background; older people and those with can impact on and support disadvantaged disabilities should be facilitated with the families…to capture the experience of people means to live full, valued and - where living in poverty and to inform government possible - independent and fully integrated about the policies, structures, strategies and lives within the community. services that work for vulnerable people.” • More investment is needed to target those (SVP, 2004) sections of our community who have been caught in a cycle of poverty, such as older Taking direction from the various opinions and people, people with disabilities, victims of points made in this document from both a violence and migrants. qualitative and quantitative approach, and with • The various organisations working with respect to the ethos base of the organisations those exposed to poverty should be contributing to this document, a number of facilitated to ensure that groups do not feel recommendations can be put forward. These as if they are working in isolation from relate to the role that civic society, individuals, others and state agencies. Networking government and faith-based communities can should be recognised as a central plank in play in the alleviation of poverty in our society. any strategy to confront poverty.

• It is important to continue to highlight the Where possible the cycle of deprivation for impact of poverty on the most vulnerable individuals needs to be broken with strategic sections of our society. Lobbying and and concerted intervention. Organisations campaigning are aspects of anti-poverty working directly with vulnerable individuals work that are in need of constant renewal. should continue to be a focus for investment. These groups can act as an outreach for funding bodies and statutory agencies. Investing in organisational capacity is a key to addressing social exclusion. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 33

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Ultimately, what is required is an integrated approach to overcoming the difficulties that poverty brings to society, with organisations and individuals playing their respective roles to intervene where and when it is possible to confront the causes and implications of poverty and social exclusion.

Individuals, including volunteers, need to be encouraged and their activities enhanced to bring the weight of civil society to bear on the pressures that poverty places on families and communities. Such a meaningful partnership needs to involve individuals, parishes, the schools and agencies working on poverty related issues.

Finally, an integrated approach must include a responsibility from statutory authorities to actively engage with and support faith-based communities in their attempt to build social capital for the betterment of all people across the north of Ireland. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 34

34 REFERENCES Gaudium et Spes’, in Kelly, Margaret (2009) It Doesn’t Office of the First Minister and A. Flannery (ed.) (1975) Vatican Happen Here: The Reality of Deputy First Minister (2006) Council II: The Conciliar and Post Child Poverty in Northern Lifetime Opportunities: Conciliar Documents, Dublin, Ireland. Belfast: Barnardo’s. Government’s Anti-poverty and Dominican Publications, pp.903- Social Inclusion Strategy for 1001. Kenway, Peter, et al. (2006) Northern Ireland. Belfast: Monitoring Poverty and Social OFMDFM. Concordia (2006) Migrant Exclusion in Northern Ireland. Workers in Northern Ireland. York: Joseph Rowntree Office of the First Minister and Belfast: Concordia. Foundation. Deputy First Minister (2006) www.concordiapartnership.org Personal Over-indebtedness in McLaughlin, E., Kelly, G. and Northern Ireland. Belfast: Dignan, T. and E. McLaughlin Scullion, F. (2005) Poverty, OFMDFM. (2002) New TSN Research: Disability and Social Exclusion in Poverty in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland. Pope Benedict XVI (2006) Deus Belfast: Office of the First Bulletin No 8. Caritas Est. London: CTS. Minister and Deputy First Minister. Monteith, M. and E. McLaughlin Pope Benedict XVI (2009) Caritas (2005) ‘Severe Child Poverty and in Veritate. London: CTS. Dorr, Donal (2009) ‘The New Social Exclusion in Northern Social Encyclical’, The Furrow, Ireland’. Belfast: Working Paper Pope John Paul II (1987) vol. 60, 2009, pp. 463-70. 26, Equality and Social Inclusion Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, London: in Ireland Project. CTS. Equalities Office HM and Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion New Policy Institute (September Pope John Paul II (1991) (2010) An Anatomy of Economic 2009) Monitoring Poverty and Centesimus Annus. London: CTS. Inequality in the UK. London: Social Exclusion in Northern HMSO. Ireland. Joseph Rowntree Scullion, Fiona and Paddy Foundation. Hillyard (October 2005) Gender European Union (2010) European and Poverty in Northern Ireland. Year for Combating Poverty and Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Belfast: OFMDFM. Social Inclusion. Network (December 2007) http://www.2010againstpoverty.e Position Paper on the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul u/?langid=en Programme or Government (September 2004) ‘Submission to 2008-2011. Belfast, Strengthening Families Gray, A.M. and Lucia Carragher www.niapn.org Strategy’. Dublin: (2007) Lone Parents Speaking Social Justice Team. Out. Belfast: Gingerbread. Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network (February 2009) Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Hamel, Ronald (1994) ‘Justice in Anti-Poverty News. Belfast: (2009a) Social Justice. the World’ Judith A. Dwyer (ed.) NIAPN. www.niapn.org www.svp.ie/SocialJustice/policies.aspx The New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought Collegeville, Mn: Northern Ireland Housing The Catechism of the Catholic Liturgical Press, pp. 495-501. Executive (2004) House Condition Church (1994) Dublin: Veritas. Survey. Belfast: NIHE. Hillyard, Paddy, et al., (2003) The Pontifical Council for Justice Bare Necessities: Poverty and Northern Ireland Statistics and and Peace Compendium of the Social Exclusion in Northern Research Agency (May 2009) Social Doctrine of the Church Ireland. Belfast: Democratic Northern Ireland Social Security (2004) Dublin: Veritas. Dialogue. Statistics Bulletin. Belfast: NISRA/DSD Yeates, N. and G.P. Kelly (2001) Horgan, Goretti and Marina Poverty and Social Security: Monteith (November 2009) What Office of the First Minister and Comparing Ireland, North and Can we do to Tackle Child Deputy First Minister (2004) South. Belfast: Department for Poverty in Northern Ireland?. Indicators of Social Need for Social Development. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Northern Ireland. Belfast: OFMDFM. SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 35 SVP brochure 6(s2) 15/11/10 12:10 Page 36