Department for Communities NI Recognises Wide Spread Proverty?
Its hard to know whether Northern Ireland is worse run by civil servants or by elected politicans, but it is telling that in
the absence of an elected NI Assembly that NI civil servants have taken it upon themselves to assist the introduction of
our first 'social supermarkets' aimed at helping people living in food poverty.
The terminology has me baffled, is there an actual different between poverty and food poverty, surely if you can't
afford to eat, you're in poverty?
The scheme is being funded by the Department for Communities (DfC) to the tune of about £70,000 to each of the five
shops due to open in Londonderry, Belfast, Coleraine, Lisburn and Strabane and which will be run by five community
organisations.
The supermarkets will then sell cheaper than usual products to people receiving welfare payments and tax credits.
Normally, the people in NI would be up in arms that the poor some of whom are on benefits and some of which are
actually in work, are now faced with tow options, go hungary or presumably seek a DfC referral, so they can visit
Northern Ireland's new 'Poor House' to get discounted food?
It is disturbing that DfC NI and other organisations including a Housing Association appear to find such a scheme
acceptable. Given that the stock for these shops is reportedly being supplied by food charity Fareshare, an
organisation who distributes surplus food from mainstream supermarkets, suppliers and manufacturers to charities, is
this scheme actually charging the poor for food given to them?
In BBC NI's report they state that 'customers will also agree to take part in a range of skill-building programmes
including money management, cooking and personal development' - I don't know if I am the only person in Northern
Ireland to find this whole scheme distatseful or a disgrace, if I am then I am happy to stand alone - but this is not a
good news story of helping the poor, it is a disgrace that we have fallen so far, driven so many into poverty and dispair,
that we are nolonger surprised or ashamed for it is the Norm.
We must all remember just how close we are to poverty and look more closely at the 'Poor Houses' being built for us!
With the first 'Poor House' supermarket to open to in February lets end with and examine closely the words of a DfC
spokeswoman speaking about the supermarkets, the scheme will give people "access to food on condition
that they take up the other services that will help them move out of poverty".
Signed: Belfast Blogger
Posted: Thursday, 4th January 2018 17:40