Families Go Hungry Through Debt

Craig Winning 1543 - 1543 • Published 10 Jun 2009 11:26 0 Comments

People in Cumnock and Doon Valley are going without meals as they struggle to cope under the burden of debt.

The chilling warning comes as Citizens Advice reveals the true extent of the cash crisis hitting families nationwide.

Citizens Advice Bureau Manager Margaret Burgess says the figures released in the "Drowing in Debt" reported are mirrored in the area. And she has said it is time for the Government to "sit up and take notice".

She said: 'For people on low incomes, or those who have lost their job, the recession has brought a "perfect storm" of dangerous economic conditions. Incomes are falling, prices are rising, lenders are becoming less patient and sources of affordable credit are disappearing.

'In these circumstances, many people can"t make ends meet and are having to go into debt just to get by. But of course debt breeds debt. When someone falls behind with a loan repayment, they often take out another loan to pay the first one off. Then they fall behind and have to take out a further loan to pay off that one. Before they know it, they are hopelessly in debt and can"t see a way out.

'And yes, some local people have told us that they have chosen to forego meals or turn the heating down, in order to pay off their debts. It"s a desperate situation.'

The "Drowning in Debt" report reveals that levels of debt among clients has doubled in the past five years. And in recent months, the levels of debt in East Ayrshire alone have reached a staggering £11 million, while queues of people worried about their situation have streamed out of the local office in Cumnock"s Townhead Street.

Ms Burgess continued: 'We have seen people, with mortgage arrears, handing the keys of their home back to the lender because they simply can"t cope with the pressure. This puts families under enormous pressure and we"ve seen families split up because of this.

'It"s time for governments at all levels to sit up and take notice of this situation. I agree with the recommendations in the CAS report - where they call for measures to increase access to affordable credit for low incomes and curb unreasonable behaviour by creditors.'

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