24 April 2001

Poverty Report Requires Action

The “poverty report” released today by SACOSS and the Social Policy Research Group at the University of South Australia is an important benchmark that accurately reflects the economic and social hardship that is being confronted by many South Australian households.

“There are two responses that we all must make” said Rev Dr Geoff Scott, Minister of the Mission at UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide. “The first response is to affirm the moral judgement that a doubling of poverty rates (after housing) over two decades is unacceptable and that the human misery caused by poverty is anathema” Rev Scott explained.

“The second response to poverty must be a commitment to action to redress the direct impacts and the injustice of poverty.”

UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide has identified the following areas of priority action for itself, and urges governments and community to also work in these areas to help ameliorate poverty.

1. Employment Creation
   The lack of reliable employment is a substantial contributor to poverty, particularly for younger single people and households with children.



2. Housing
   The report very clearly shows the importance of affordable housing as a direct means of reducing poverty. (For single people over 65 years, 56% of households live in before housing poverty in SA, yet only 2.2% live in "after housing" poverty.)



3. Building Community Opportunities
   Supporting local initiative and resilience enables low-income communities to confront their circumstances and to develop locally appropriate and pro-active responses to locational disadvantage.



4. Relationships
   Poverty places huge burdens on interpersonal relationships and is a significant factor contributing to violence in intimate relationships. Strengthening relationships is central to overcoming many consequences of poverty.



5. Overcoming Gambling
   The rapid rise in gambling levels is a significant contributor to poverty growth in SA. Strategies to effectively reduce the level of gambling will reduce poverty.

"The challenge of overcoming the impacts of poverty is massive, but it a challenge that we cannot ignore, because poverty will not just go away. The only way to overcome poverty is through concerted action by communities that care" concluded Rev Scott

 

For Further Comment
Mark Henley Senior Policy Officer	8202 5135 (w) 0404 067 011 (mob) 8370 1112 (h)