Families can’t afford to put food on the table
CASH strapped families in Kerry are going hungry to meet ‘crucifying’ mortgage repayments, while others who previosuly donated to charity are now seeking help from the very organisations they once supported.
That’s according to the Listowel branch of the St Vincent de Paul (SVP), which had one of its busiest Christmas periods on record trying to provide essentials such as food and fuel to families around north Kerry. SVP member Michael Dillane told The Kerryman that in his 44 years with the organisation, he has never seen so many families struggling to survive and seeking help to put food on the table.
“I’ve been involved since 1967 and this is by far the worst I’ve seen. People are staying hungry to pay their mortgages and that seems to be the toughest thing we’ve come across. People will go to any length not to lose their home and in many cases — where both people may have lost their job — that means staying hungry. Big mortgages are crucifying people,” he said.
Mr Dillane said that, during the Christmas period, the SVP was inundated with calls from people looking for essentials like food and heat, with many unable to provide a Christmas dinner for their family. What is shocking, he said, is how many middle class families are now looking for help.
“We also noticed a number of people who would have supported us last year were now coming to us for assistance. Unfortunately they are coming down from the high of previous years and are finding it impossible to cope” he said. “There are families who might be able to meet the day to day needs, but are simply going without car tax or house insurance because they do not have €300 or €400 to hand over in one lump sum.”
Maureen O’donoghue of Lixnaw SVP said it was ‘heartbreaking’ to see so many young families struggling to feed their children and heat their homes , describing the current situation was extremely sad.
SVP regional president, John O’sullivan, meanwhile said that 2011 was undoubtedly one of the busiest, again confirming that unemployment and mortgage arrears are among the main reasons so many people are now forced to seek help to provide the essentials.