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ST VINCENT DE Paul expects to see a record number of calls for support this year, saying the figure could reach almost 200,000 by the end of December.
It is appealing for help from the public to assist the people who will seek its services.
The society’s national president Rose McGowan said that the country is “facing a perfect storm for families contending with a cost-of-living crisis on multiple fronts”.
“Energy prices are soaring, we are seeing rents rise well beyond what people can afford and increasing transport costs are also putting pressure on low-income households,” McGowan said.
SVP is “deeply concerned” that over the coming months, “this crisis will come to a head as households are unable to find extra room in the budget for escalating energy costs”.
“In those circumstances they will inevitably turn to SVP for help. Need is the only criteria we apply when people seek our help, but to provide that help we need the generous support of the Irish public that we are seeking through this 2021 annual appeal,” McGowan said.
“We are appealing for donations to be made locally, online or over the phone that will help people through this winter and into the new year.”
A Red C poll commissioned by SVP in March found that 43% of Irish people were facing financial pressure due to the pandemic, including loss of income, increased household expenditure on basic needs and erosion of savings to meet ordinary living expenses.
Households also faced pressures like falling behind on bills and being forced to cut back on essentials such as food, heating and electricity.
One in four people said they had cut back on food and utilities due to the pandemic and almost 10% of tenants said they had fallen behind on their rent.
Earlier this year, SVP said that it received almost 300 calls a day in mid-August from parents struggling ahead of the return to schools.
The number of calls relating to school costs were 10% higher than previous years and related to requests for financial help with parental contributions, schoolbooks, digital equipment, and the cost of school uniforms.
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The green party fairy policies has pushed a lot of people in this country into fuel poverty,their policies favours the well off in retrofitting their homes and latest electric cars,meanwhile joe public is penalised cos they can’t afford the latest trendy green policy
@James: really , too obvious a deflection to blame a small party for the need for SVP , they were here before all those policies apparently made life difficult for us.Here’s an easy question for you, which of main parties were in power when the charities were dealing with the same problems with poverty back in the good old days?
@flexfinn: 2 out of the 3 problems,cost of energy,cost of transport are major factors for the svp.peoole are going cold in their homes and can’t drive their cars.but you wouldn’t know anything about that sitting in your warm home putting fear into people about the world in going to implode due to climate change!!!what an ignorant comment from you
@James: Ignoring climate change won’t make the problem go away. The problem isn’t green policies as we have no choice there, it’s more the impact needs to be more fairly spread over society
@flexfinn: your proactivity won’t change my opinion of your comment or refusal to answer the question
@Mickety Dee: the problem isn’t green policies? Well there only policy seems to be put a tax on it. There is no real affordable alternative to using oil and gas in older homes and the infrastructure isn’t in place for everyone to move from diesel/petrol to electric cars. public transport is overcrowded and unrealiabe and wouldn’t be able to take a surge in new passenger. So yes it is there policy of put a tax on it knowing People have to use it and pay that tax.
@James:
The space bar works after punctuation. Try it out!
@James: it is clear to see why greens are always in the gov with FF/FG.
green party is there to be a scapegoat for all the taxing and cost of living hike policies. While glorious FF/FG are increasing pensions by 5 eu and “”"fighting”"” against housing/health sky rocketing costs of living.
KS Food Appeal does not do forcasting , but reaches out to 1100 approx families monthly with food parcels , CEO gets not a penny and has a group of volunteers in local hubs collecting giving delivering , no questions no committees decision , real local support for our families in their time off need .
They stopped giving hampers and are giving money instead. I don’t donate anymore because of this policy.
@Thomas Linehan: Why? Giving hampers means that we continue a paternalistic approach to “charity”. We, the better off, decide what the poor need. Giving money means they decide what they need. And we can’t be having that, can we?
@Sean O’Doherty: You’re right. Naturally people in need know what they need better than anyone else. They can most likely buy food more economically if they only had some money to spend on it. Imagine sitting in darkness with a hamper because you can’t afford to replace a light bulb.
The type of poverty described here should not exist in this small country , nobody should be cold or without enough food. The millionaire TDs created this situation making rules and regulations that has no downward effect on themselves, billions wasted every day surely the everyday basic necessities should be there for all. I call it inequality. If your rich your laughing and the Government will ensure your looked after.
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