Fighting Shame: poverty in Leeds depicted by eight everyday objects 

I was thinking exactly the same just now 😢

@@stephaniewalker3288 Homeless shelters have existed for decades. That's how people have survived... It's a shame there's no such facilties for men in this day and age.

It's a lot worse now, and it is only going down hill more and more

We see the same problems in the US.

@@Ben31337l in America they do least have that

I know right?! I was at a thrift shop looking for furniture after being homeless and I had to ask a staff member where can actually poor people find affordable furniture. He told me to contact the church 😑

@@vw2523 nothing charitable about that. That is what does my head in can't help people in our community who are in need but are running a charity. Sorry that happened to you, hope you are in a better position now.

@@vw2523 Wow. Sick.

@@vw2523 sorry for that. Here the biggest charity recognizes when you are in need and makes you a special deal or giveaway. The people working there come from problematic economical backgrounds, so they know what being in need feels like. On top of foodstamps from the Red Cross etc. we have a new initiative Since a couple of years we also have a special foodshop ( fresh, frozen, chilled, canned), with some essential toiletries and sanitary pads& diapers. It is only accessible for families who have between approx. 800 and 1 100 pounds a month. Students run it and find lots of gifts from foodproducers and shops With raising energy bills and rent they are loosing it. Items cost 5 to 20 pence ( rough conversion) and you can shop for 20 pounds max per month.

Not sure if it is the same but the kids from Bedales always shopped at Charity Shops for their clothes, their parents are rolling in money.

Yes and no. Most of the people who are homeless for any extended period of time are there because of their own choices whether that choice be drugs or gambling etc. I agree that there are rare cases where people are put out for no reason but most places have eviction rules that give you at least a month to get out.

@Dariel Ruben I'm glad that I'm not your girl friend.

@@rachelfreeders356 you're assuming that there are accessible places for people to go if they're evicted through no fault of their own. Fyi the private rental market is horrific currently and not affordable for many, and council housing is on its knees.

Agree

@@rachelfreeders356 I don't think many people make a career choice of drug addict or alcoholic or gambler. Addiction is a symptom rather than cause of hopelessness. Underlying much addiction is poor mental health, depression, which can hit any one any time, trauma,, such as accidents, redundancy and relationship problems. There are quite well heed people who fall into addiction because of the pressure to perform in very high stress jobs. Drug addiction is very common amongst doctors and teachers. Once on the slide it is frequently a down hill ride. Addiction services are pitifully Councils like Leeds, won't house single young men. They are expected to find private sector homes. You can not get a home without rent and you can not get benefits without a home so many young men turn to into drug addicts because it is cold in the streets. Schizophrenia is another serious cause of homelessness and alcoholism. People may not realise they are ill and their life spirals out of control until it is too late and the addictions have started. So please do not judge Even the down right dosy do better in a home. They used to have asylum in mental hospitals. Then bright sparks decided care in the community was better. But the community doesn't care.

Children prior to school age have no idea about where food comes from and the difference between classes. It is from Kindergarten to 2nd grade where the children begin to distinguish who is "poor" and who has more wealth.

This is exactly why I didn't never wanted children....I was never paternal, always enjoyed my peaceful life and I love my naps-56 yr old woman

Before they attend school there was a program called WIC that buys milk and cereal. That is something. Schools have breakfast and lunch. Some provide these meals during the summer,too.

@@elmobolan4274 agreed. Me too. Having kids just makes any poor situation much worse.

You should have kid only if you can support it. Divorce happens in50% of marriages

I just wrote pretty much the same thing before reading your comment. The systems we have were created years ago by people who were not looking to potentially solve problems. They were only creating band aids. I don't know what it's going to take to finally start listening to innovators and not people who seek only to serve a system. A failed system.

need prioritizing. first bills and food , after that paid you can have a cigarette , tattoo etc.

Unlike the guardian, who seems to prefer woman over men and veterans, disgusting preferenchial and blatent sexist treatment.

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That is nonsense. There is stigma and worse stigma in the middle east as well. Prejudice is universal

@@notthedoctor8621 Where in the middle east have you been and how did you travel throughout the entire universe. There's a noble prize if not for peace then certainly for science 😆

@@stonehengemaca Nobel.

@@iriscollins7583 hehe ...I'm going to blame auto correct... 🤔

Because normality is ignored which is worse

How do you make slippers out of carpet? That actually sounds creative.

Communities are so important ,thank you for sharing your experience 😊

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Very true, finding understanding seems to be a huge struggle for some especially those that are better of...

@RoadKillzine obesity is another issue of social inequality. it's not a widely known or published one however and it does seem like a paradox when you consider 3r world countries. if you are genuinely interested and not just using obesity as a means of berating the poor, there is lots of information on google about the link between food poverty and obesity ....its an eye opener for people who don't really understand nutrition.

@RoadKillzine Must be nice to be know the solution to poverty. I don't deny that some people living in poverty get there and stay there while having no one to blame but themselves but that is not the case for everyone. Some people have no choice in the whole matter. You can think hey this is the 21st century there's lots of options available for people out there to seize their own destiny but truthfully that's just idealistic talk that people who've never been truly powerless or helpless cannot understand. Freedom, not to mention freedom of choice, belongs only to the privileged. I agree with the not having children until you can care for them properly bit but as for everything else nah. You say get an education but you need money for an education unless you're smart enough or lucky enough but how many people are that smart or that lucky in this world? You say get a job but how many graduates are jobless let alone people who haven't been to university. Not to mention the fact that the jobs that people without higher education can get are usually pay around minimum wage. Add on to the fact that usually even if something goes wrong like you get sick or injured there's always someone to replace you. If you can't accept a certain aspect of the job again there's always someone to replace you. If the bosses feel like you're getting too old, again there's always someone to replace you. People are treated like machine parts that are easily interchangeable. You say they're obese because they're uneducated but who should be blamed those who know yet say nothing or those that don't know at all. Because lots of people know about the issues surrounding obesity, and a lot of those people have the power to improve the situation but they will not do so as it would not be as profitable, so who's truly to blame? Being compassionate or at least trying to understand never harmed anyone. If you can help someone help, if you can't why bother disparaging people who truly don't need disparaging because even say their poverty is their fault, for one there are people out there who've done far worse and for another society is the way it is not because of one group of people but because of every single person living in it.

Esk8 Jaimes I feel sorry for real hard up people, but I feel these people could help them selves and get a qualification and try and get a decent paid job.

amanda simonite It’s self inflicted though, I see many people stuffing their face then complaining they are fat. It’s a horrible vicious circle

Totally agree, that woman was working, and had the money to treat herself to things. She didn't ask to get cancer and be unable to work, also she can't remove her skin to get the money back now. We can't live our lives in fear of being ill one day and preparing for it!

@@lozzylols exactly, she probably could afford the tattoo at the time she got and you can't bring the tattoo back to the tattoo artist and get a refund

Yeah we can start with one in 5 politicians. 🥴

My life has been one big strurggle.

Well said.

It’s the poor tax payers who have to get out of their beds at stupid o clock, in the cold and dark to go to work, to pay for these people. No wonder people are angry and bitter about it

@Olga Weasel....too many are scamming the system though and others lose out.

Ur right

It's not unfair. What we spend on welfare has to be balanced by what it's fair to ask the taxpayer to contribute. Remember there's no such thing as free money from the govt, someone somewhere has to pay tax for the govt to have revenue to spend.

@JCBAirmaster73 the UK created many of those other countries problems and profited off of them in the process. we're not talking ancient history either we're talking 1930s. you can hide on your island and pretend you have no obligations to the rest of the world, but one day those obligations will catch up.

@JCBAirmaster73 you profitted for 100s of years, yet say their freedom is restitution enough?

William Morey-Baker that's true and also other countrys could help instead of making profit's just for their own goods.

JCBAirmaster73 and in too many cases thes wars where created by the CIA, KGB and MI6. Other western secret services where also included but the point is, that we are responsible for the wars we made and the deals we used to exploy them.

Britain left most places it conquered much more developed and wealthier, take Zimbabwe for example, in 1980 it was the second most developed nation in Africa after south Africa, now look at look at it, these countries went backwards after they got independence, that lays with them, not me.

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Its having the ability to be actually able to see another person and "read" whats going on.

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That's a really interesting perspective. Makes alot of sense.

Japan is very similar

As a German living in UK right now I can't really agree. When you are poor in Germany you hassle with finding a flat, some kids don't have enough to eat either, if you don't have the right clothes you get shamed for it as well. Help from Jobcenter or Arbeitsamt almost doesn't really exist. It's more a battle of better " numbers" for employees there. Also you have rights they try to fight it and if you don't have enough money for a lawyer you almost got no chance. I will not say the child benefits and even most countries decided to have kindergarten, Hort ( after school club) are for free, doesn't help a little bit. But from year to year it gets worse in Germany.

@Tiffany Raine haha. You obviously have no idea or you're joking

Putin got other plans :)

Our family was exactly the same. I work in the private sector and get 10 days paid sick leave a year. I have a pain condition and still go in and cry in the toilet if I have to

Public sector jobs are the best places to work. Private sector is a nightmare to work for

@@susieenglish302 😭😭😭

ok boomer

And when was this??? In the 1970s??

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People need homes, food and clothing. Hopeless is something society can eradicate.

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yes. but people need food, clean water and shelter and decent quality of life.

So say we all.

@@Royal_Fortune by definition no, religious people at the clergy are supposed to live in poverty according to scripture

They are probably poor too.

The mums may not want the fathers near the kids as they may be toxic/ dangerous. Asking for financial help can open up communication that can be traumatising. But yes of course they should probably sort themselves out

@@RosesAreGold1 In The States, the fathers have their wages sent or garnished to the state and the state sends the money to the mother. No physical contact/interaction between the parents is necessary. The entire burden of raising children shouldn't be left to the mother. Hunger and homelessness are daily traumas unto themselves.

@@breezluize3282 in the uk if the dad is on the birth certificate they are allowed a say in the child’s life. In the USA how do you prove they’re even the dad?

@@RosesAreGold1 DNA/paternity tests are court mandated.

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No what you need is a government that takes care of ppl. It’s great that ppl have come together but ppl shouldn’t have to do this.

@@dianacasey6002 There's nothing wrong with eating together as a community. The government should be supporting it more though. Providing the space and the food and the organizers.

@@dinkster1729 did I not say that it’s great that ppl get together

People can come together and eat but in this case its not a service its survival and these volunteers need to be applauded however the government is responsible to ensure that people have enough money to eat and heat their homes and to increase the pension to a living pension for the elderly. What really angers me is working class people voting for the tories and allowing the poorest in our society to get even more poorer, they had a choice at the last election and they turned it down, the guardian was just as responsible as the right wing media in smearing a man that wanted to help the poor

And they need the GOV TO STEP UP…..

Well said!

What a basic, ignorant statement to make. If we could save them from poverty we would have already. This isn't a utopian society.

Pay people a living wage! It's the government's fault,

If you are poor, then I don’t think anybody should be shamed for it. But, the best thing would be to gain a qualification and try and get a decent paid job and better them selves. Problem is, they don’t help them selves and waste all their money on sky tv, and smoking

Des Thomas The left don’t understand basic economics, then prices would rise and nobody could be able to afford things

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Why did he chuck you out?

@@andrewlloydwebster5656 Maybe just divorce are not bothering to have child and say "It's not my problem".

Much much worse today 3.years later

Agreed... its just inhuman to expect someone to go without payment for that long... i wonder if they'd like to not be paid for that length of time??

It's better to donate money directly to local kitchens and pantries, as they can get special discounts at stores and buy bulk so it goes farther than a single can. They also have a better idea as to the food that is needed.

Big hug to You Brave Soul ✝️🙏☮️🌻🕊️

Well done!! And well said

The 1980s is when it all started again.

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They do not have a morally obligation to help those in need

Come off it. I'd like to see these women spend a day in the shoes of a third world person. They'd never complain again about how bad their lives are.

@@lw3646 What a worthless comparison.

It does not matter how much another has. The billionaire did not take it from another. The UK has a support system. When you don’t have money everyone else has too much? UK used to house half the country. Now it only houses 17%. These homeless in temp accommodation the temp accommodation is covered by the government.

@Steph D. Like David Beckham and Lewis Hamilton you mean?

I think it's great that you respected your mother's wishes. So many families pay out for extravagant funerals when the time spent with family is what really matters.

haha, she had a great sense of humour

This is exactly what my mum wants for her funeral, its also what i want for mine...I couldn't condone thousands being spent on my burial :))

Respect has to be earned its not a right I will be polite to you until you give me a reason not to then I will tell you exactly what I think of you

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Nah no matter how rich a country is there will always be unlucky people. Nothing wrong with a foodbank

we dont need food banks. Its about people prioritising the wrong things. Its about time we had an honest debate about the finances and decisions made by individuals using food banks. It will be quite a revelation.

@@mente3810 recent studies showed the uk poor had much less than the poor in many other similar European countries. Maybe inequality has got out of hand.

@@mente3810 Before Tory Austerity they were not needed. I'm 61 and for me, they're a relatively new thing.

@@spillarge No, it's aboiut people being poor. Being poor means you simply don't have the money to buy the things you need. 40+ years of neoliberalism have done this.

I'd just like to congratulate you on attracting none of the usual hateful comments from stating something most consider common sense 👏👏 I'd also like to add that the government could close any tax loop holes that allow the rich to dodge contributing to the UK treasury..

I feel sorry for what are you going through😭😭 , but don't worry, there is a life , there is a chance 😊

You are in Uk with no guarantee ? Why ? Where & do you have family or friends to help ? If you aren’t a permanent resident this is problematic for you. If you’re waiting for authorities to sort guarantee & help you, because you are legitimate then ask for help! I wish you blessing’s 🙏

@@florence1395 guarantor is a person who is willing to sign a contract to say they'll pay the rental costs if the tenant can't for whatever reason. Without a guarantor it is extremely difficult to get a private rented tenancy.

at least they have healthcare

It's not really it's beautiful we do get treated badly though if that's that what you mean....

it is begging, however you dress it up.

Of course it’s begging. I have faced hard times and death of close family, but wouldn’t dream of putting up a “ go fund me” page

Landlords are parasites

Same.

Me too 😢

Aye, communication and cooperation is key!

Some people are horrible, with no empathy for others. 💙

Your idea about free is completely unfair to people who are paying for it.

If you work all your life you will get a state pension and a company pension, that's more than enough. The main issue is that years ago you retired at 60, probably dead by 65, people are now living for 20-30 years after they retire but they aren't putting enough money into their pensions earlier in life.

Their own fault.

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Seems the solution is community-led projects that support local needs whatever they may be, costs money though. Cooperation is key I find.

Seems like the concept of salvaged 'Junkfood/fair-trade' projects are on the rise though, makes sense but takes some corporate convincing...

Increasing taxes on the rich.

The government can close tax loop holes and force multi billionaire companies to pay their taxes

@@liawatson5789 The rich are taxed at a much higher rate! People I know who are high earners who work extremely hard pay lot’s of tax. Unfortunately when their children hit problems they don’t get state help. They get no help & believe me the tax goes up. It’s the super wealthy who should be giving more to help genuine, real genuine poverty not lazy people who don’t work out of laziness or choice!

Me too.marvelous,strong minded women.respect big-time.

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Perhaps you can talk to your pastor and ask for some space in the church and put out a call to parishioners who want to work with you to find solutions to the needs of the needy in the community. This has inspired me to do so, where I live.

Amen to that!