Fears over cost of living crisis
A CALDERDALE money and debt advice service is warning that the cost of living crisis is only going to get worse.
Noah’s Ark, who provide counselling and financial advice, say they have received 56 referrals for their debt advice service in the past two weeks, whereas last year, the average was 50 per month.
They also say they have completed 133 insolvencies in the last four months, compared to 181 in the whole of 2020.
Their food parcel activity is also 100 per cent higher than it was before November last year, while their ‘Budget like a boss’ courses have long waiting lists of people needing help with their finances.
Andrew Sykes, from Noah’s Ark, on Ovenden Road, Ovenden, Halifax, said: “There is most definitely an issue at the moment and the effects of this haven’t properly kicked in yet.
“I think the term ‘crisis’ is entirely appropriate.
“There is a very real impact at the moment on people’s mental health.
“Every client we see is reporting stress, anxiety, sleeplessness and depression, Andrew added.
“Sadly a significant number are telling us they feel suicidal. There’s an awful lot of fear out there at the moment.”
Noah’s Ark offer help for people to become debt free by providing them with temporary support around food and bills, show people how to manage their money and help them to find work.
But Andrew is also warning that a secondary crisis is looming around funding for advice services like Noah’s Ark and Citizens Advice Calderdale.
“Make no mistake, Calderdale needs face-to-face debt advice.
“Funding for our service ends in the summer and CAC lose theirs even sooner.
“There is the potential here for a perfect storm: a deluge of residents needing our help but we’re no longer here.
I can’t stress enough how worrying that is for me.”
Make no mistake, Calderdale needs face-to-face debt advice
ADVICE: Contact Noah’s Ark by calling 01422 364664.