CHEX Briefing - February 2024
The real-life impact of poverty – stories from HIIC
The statistics on health inequalities, whilst shocking, don’t give insight into the real-life experiences of people living in poverty. It’s important to remind ourselves of the human cost of not addressing the underlying causes of health inequalities.
Health Issues in the Community (HIIC) is a course that helps people understand what affects their health and the health of their communities. Run by tutors across Scotland, HIIC supports people of all ages (youth pack available) to develop the skills and knowledge to address health issues using community development approaches.
This includes people being supported to tell their story and, crucially, to be able to relate this to wider social injustice. HIIC participants have given the following accounts as part of their course:
Young people being ashamed of where they come from, reducing confidence in applying for courses and employment.
How the cumulative effect of different forms of poverty creates a sense of hopelessness.
The daily humiliation and embarrassment of not being able to afford school uniform and the stress on family life this can create.
Parents dreading the summer holidays due to the cost of providing food (leading to ‘holiday hunger’) and extra activities.
The additional stress and embarrassment people face when having to ask for help a second time after being referred to charities such as food banks.
Not having enough money to pay for public transport to get to appointments, clubs, shops and other services and support. Online services are equally inaccessible for those who can’t afford the technology or Wi-Fi.
The effect of austerity on working poor, including those on unstable zero-hour contracts, making it hard to make ends meet.
The stress and anxiety of changing to a different benefit and applying for universal credit, particularly when left ‘in limbo’ between different provision.
How poverty has a hugely detrimental effect on people’s mental health
Shops selling fruit and vegetables closing down in disadvantaged communities because people can’t afford them
Women and girls not wanting to attend work or education because they cannot afford sanitary product. ‘Period poverty’ is therefore a vicious circle.
These are just some of the many stories told by HIIC participants which highlight the insidious and cumulative effect that poverty has on people and their health.
Find out more about HIIC here.
