Charities 'busier than ever' with furniture poverty

Charities say they are "busier than ever" helping people living in furniture poverty.

BBC South spoke to people and organisations affected in Hampshire after national charity End Furniture Poverty said about six million in the UK were living without essentials such as beds, cookers and fridges.

A group of MPs is also urging the government to create a national strategy to tackle the issue. They said they believed a safe, secure and sustainable home should include access to the basic furniture needed for everyday life.

The government said it was already taking action to support households.

One person who has needed help is Yana Osibchuk, who came to the UK from Ukraine after the war began with her son, her dog and two suitcases, and was placed into social housing.

"It was absolutely empty - no furniture, no cooker, no fridge, nothing and no flooring," she said.

Yana was referred to Southampton City and Region Action to Combat Hardship (Scratch).

"It's really changed my life," she said.

But Yana's experience is far from unique. The vast majority of social housing is let unfurnished.

Scratch has been operating for 27 years, and managing director Mike Taylor said the charity was "busier now than it's ever been".

"We are always chock-a-block, our diaries are full every week," he said.

"We have two vans going out every day."

He said pressure on household budgets was one factor, but there were many reasons people ended up needing help.

"It could be that they've had a crisis in their life, they've had to flee a relationship or flee domestic violence and they've ended up somehow in a property with no furniture," he said.

"They may have children with them. They haven't got disposable income. They just don't have the facilities or the money to get going again."

Scratch depends on donations and grants from the council. It then puts together packs and sells them to people at minimal prices.

The charity does not deal directly with the public, but takes referrals from the council, housing associations or other professionals such as social workers.

National charity End Furniture Poverty defines furniture poverty as the inability to access or afford to buy or maintain any household furniture or appliance item that is essential to achieve a socially acceptable standard of living.

Charity director Claire Donovan said: "There are harmful physical, emotional, social, and financial consequences to furniture poverty, and it's not just about material needs as furniture poverty is a consequence of the broader issue of poverty.

"Over a quarter of social housing tenants live in furniture poverty and yet only around 3% of those are let as furnished."

End Furniture Poverty asked people living in furniture poverty about their experiences, and 30% said their physical and mental health had been affected.

Claire added: "Not being able to get a good night's sleep because you haven't got a bed. Not being able to store or prepare fresh food because you haven't got a cooker or a fridge - and just the grinding stress of that day in day out - it really affects every area of your life."

The problem is not limited to one area.

The Moving on Project Portsmouth charity helps people in the city who are struggling with furniture poverty. Every day it sees people in desperate need.

Sarah Knight, from the charity, said: "It's huge. People are digging deep - the only other alternative is to enter loans which have a high interest rate and can lead to problems along the line.

"It used to be people on benefits - now it's not, it's people from all walks of life. Reduced hours, higher bills - it affects everybody.

"The foodbanks and pantries are on the increase and it's the same with furniture - there are so many families struggling.

"Some may not have a bed, they may have a couple of kids sharing a bed. It's horrendous to think that we are in 2026 and to think this amount of poverty is still going on."

End Furniture Poverty is calling on the government to make sure 10% of social housing is let as furnished.

A government spokesperson said in a statement: "No one should have to live without essential furniture in the place they call home.

"We're taking action to support renters by launching a £1bn fund that can be used to help households get furniture."