Haverhill charity REACH Community Projects wants Government to do more as debt cases double

After seeing debt cases double, a Haverhill charity is calling for a better long-term ‘crisis strategy’ from the Government.

In the wake of last week’s budget, REACH Community Projects said in the past five months it had opened 109 new debt cases compared to 53 in the same period last year.

Some measures announced by Mr Hunt were welcomed for those struggling with the high cost of living. In particular, REACH was pleased to see the repayment period extended for those on Universal Credit who needed household emergency loans.

Henry Wilson, REACH chief executive, said: “Naturally we welcome the short-term actions and there is no doubt these will make a difference to some people but we desperately hope to see a long-term crisis strategy put into place to support communities and will continue to campaign for the changes that are so urgently needed, as well as pursuing other prevention projects such as the teaching of budgeting in schools, alongside our debt and benefit support.

“One day I dream we won’t have to use these sticking plaster remedies but, until then, we will continue to provide emergency aid for people who fall into hardship. I fear that number may rise further and very significantly.”

The Household Support Fund has been extended but REACH said it was disappointed it was only for six months, especially given uncertainty over what would happen when it ended, with the Government already suggesting it wished to cut back on welfare costs.

The fund has supported free school meals during holidays and the local welfare assistance scheme.

REACH said recent successful HSF applications had helped a man battling three cancers needing electricity to keep his house warm, a young father with custody of his daughter having the means to pay his utility bills despite having to move and a widow struggling to make ends meet after her husband died.

REACH said it wanted to see solutions at a national level to prevent people from falling into poverty in the first place.

It added that the failure to raise the tax threshold for the very lowest paid would, with inflation, bring more people into tax while still struggling with the rising cost of living.