PlaceShapers has joined 93 organisations in an open letter to UK political party leaders.
Matthew Walker, Chair of PlaceShapers, said: "Our residents are often on lower or variable incomes and are disproportionately amongst those affected by the cost of living crisis. Members are doing all they can to support residents through this crisis. It's vital that the basic rate of Universal Credit cover life's essentials, with support never dropping below that level."
Open letter
When people are going without, it’s time to guarantee #OurEssentials. We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and yet people here in the UK are going without the essentials we all need to get by.
Everyone’s circumstances can change. Losing your job, needing to care for a sick family member, breaking up with your partner – these are things that can happen to anyone.
Others will be facing longer-term challenges, such as single parents of young children who are only able to work part-time, or those living with long term disabilities or ill health.
Our social security system should offer support to anyone in need of help, but right now it’s not providing enough to cover the cost of life’s essentials, such as food, utilities and vital household goods, with nine out of ten low-income households receiving Universal Credit going without one or more of these essentials.
This means that those facing shorter-term setbacks are too often spiralling into deeper hardship, making it harder for them to get back on their feet, and those already dealing with longer term challenges are experiencing impossible levels of ongoing hardship.
We can’t always deal with what life throws at us on our own, which is why we need to have a system in place that supports us all to afford the essentials. This means ensuring that the basic rate of Universal Credit must at least cover life's essentials, with support never being pulled below that level.
Together, we’re calling on you to adopt the Essentials Guarantee.
