Number Of People Struggling Financially Doubled Since Pandemic Began

Thursday, 10 February 2022 13:00

By Caoimhe Harney

17% have cut back on essential items

The number of people struggling financially has doubled since before the Covid 19 pandemic, from 9 to 18%.

A Red C survey carried out for the St. Vincent De Paul also found that half of renters are worried about their ability to pay the rent in the coming six months, while 37% say they've cut back on essential heating and electricity use.

17% say they've cut back on other essential items including food.

Close to one in five people say they are having difficulty making ends meet, with many being forced to cut back on essentials such as food.

Almost half of renters are worried about their ability to pay their rent in the next six months, the St Vincent de Paul-commissioned research found.

Nearly half of unemployed people have reduced their use of heating and electricity.

And almost half of single parents have cut back on essential heating and electricity and a third have cut back on other essentials like food.

A quarter of renters, in both private accommodation and local authority housing, have cut back on essentials like food in response to rising energy prices.

Dr. Tricia Kielthy from the S.V.D.P says that vulnerable groups are finding it even harder to manage:

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