{"id":4492,"date":"2022-04-14T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/?post_type=blog&p=4492"},"modified":"2023-10-26T13:28:55","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T12:28:55","slug":"how-is-the-cost-of-living-crisis-affecting-young-homeless-people","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/blog\/how-is-the-cost-of-living-crisis-affecting-young-homeless-people\/","title":{"rendered":"How is the cost of living crisis affecting young homeless people?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In 2022 the cost of living is set to soar, with increased energy prices, National Insurance hikes and inflation rising on goods and products. These increases will push many people into poverty and will make many more homeless<\/a>, but what about those who are already homeless? How are they expected to survive?<\/p>\n

Most of the young people that come to Depaul are on Universal Credit. Some are working part-time, and are already struggling to survive on a low income. Inflation is currently at a 30-year high of 7%<\/a> but benefits have only risen by 3%; this means a 4% deficit in their income in comparison to their expenses \u2013 which is a huge drop for a group already in very precarious circumstances.<\/p>\n

What is the current situation for young people experiencing homelessness?<\/h2>\n

For people on Universal Credit who are single and under the age of 25, the standard allowance was previously \u00a3257 as of 2021\/22. The 3% increase will see this go up by \u00a38 a month. But rising prices on everything else \u2013 on food, toiletries, on travel \u2013 will see this cancelled out completely.<\/p>\n

If a young person is spending \u00a380 to \u00a3100 a month on food, \u00a350 a month on travel to get to and from work or college, up to \u00a350 a month for a phone, it\u2019s easy to see how rising inflation will lead to their expenses going up by significantly more than \u00a38 a month, through no fault of their own.<\/p>\n

Most young people referred to Depaul UK<\/a> are already challenged by the fact they don\u2019t have enough money to cover their living expenses or to put food on the table. It just takes one unexpected expense for them to be pushed over the edge, and in real financial trouble.<\/p>\n

For young people in this situation, it means a lot of time and energy is spent just struggling to stay afloat, rather than being able to seek opportunities to improve their circumstances and improve their income. They are being limited by what they can achieve not by choice, not by themselves, but by external factors outside of their control. These problems are only going to get worse as the cost of living crisis worsens.<\/p>\n

Advice for young people struggling with rising costs<\/h2>\n

\"Garry<\/p>\n

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Garry Loney is Depaul\u2019s Money Management Trainer, which is a service is to help young people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness to manage their finances, for budgeting help, debt management help, or help with saving.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIt\u2019s really worrying for me, I see this when I have a conversation with them, and I see it in their faces when I’m looking into their eyes. I can see the worry, I can see the distress.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shares the following advice for any young person struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important thing is to know what you\u2019re spending. Tracking your spending is the most important tool you have to keep your finances in check, because only you can predict how you\u2019d spend in the future by looking at how you spend in the past.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs costs go up, it\u2019s even more important to be prudent and be able to track where your money is going. Even little things \u2013 say, only having a takeaway on a weekend \u2013 will add up and help you reduce your spending and ultimately maximise your saving. Know your spending is vital for being able to manage your money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hear more from Garry, our Money Management Trainer:<\/p>\n