![]() ![]() In my view this is misguided and can become a dangerous form of victim blaming. A survey for The Evangelical Alliance in 2015 (p14-15) demonstrated that this interpretation of UK poverty is almost universal among Christians. Jo’s questioning of people who visit the food bank seems to place a great burden on the individual, and to locate the causes of poverty firmly in personal behaviour and attitudes. The case is well and passionately argued in Mez McConnell’s The Least, The Last and the Lost (see my review). Here it is that deep, honest and life-transforming relationships can best be built. Transforming relationshipsīut there is also a strong case that anti-poverty work is most effective if located, not so much in projects and para-church organisations, but in the gospel and local churches that are deeply rooted in the life of economically struggling local communities. Improved models of delivering food aid are emerging, such as food co-operatives, pay-as-you-feel markets, and Local Pantries. This is simply not well fitted to building relationships of solidarity and providing personal dignity. Sadly, the model of the food bank industry is fundamentally a welfare-client transaction conditional on a referral from an organisation that holds power. However, the key to success is building long-term relationships of trust. If the questions are asked sensitively and if there are good referral pathways to other agencies who can help with issues such as employment, debt, addictions and domestic violence, much good can be done. So in her (as in most other) food banks, customers are asked some questions, and attempts are made to address underlying issues. Jo is right to dig deeper in trying to find out what kind of help can make a significant and real difference to people’s lives, so that they can move beyond the crisis of an empty larder. ![]() While these initiatives provide essential first aid to people in crisis, and may even save lives, they remain problematic. And now, in response to the current cost of living crisis, thousands of ‘warm welcome centres’ have opened too. In recent years, over 2,500 food banks have been established. We are one example of the hundreds of churches, mosques and community groups who have been eager to respond to the urgent needs of people struggling with poverty and a precarious life. Personally I spend many hours in supporting and organising such work. My own church, alongside other faith and community groups and our council, is deeply involved in this ministry. Strong reactionīut Jo’s article also provoked a strong reaction in me. The arguments are well rehearsed in the context of international aid in Corbet and Finkett’s book When Helping Hurts. Those of us who have been active in this kind of work recognise the sense of entitlement which easily develops in response to whatever welfare provision or charity that is offered.Ĭhristian professionals and campaigners in the poverty and development industry have long recognised that generosity is not enough. A recent article by Jo Moore on Grace + Truth highlighted a significant issue: that unconditional generosity can so easily lead to dependency for the recipient. ![]()
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