Employment does not solve poverty, says Stack

THE archbishop of Cardiff has said that increasing employment is not a solution to a “poverty crisis” in Wales, where close to a quarter of the population live below the poverty line, writes James Macintyre.

Archbishop George Stack quoted figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which showed that more working households live in poverty than non-working ones due to low pay and living standards.

Addressing Catholic charities, clergy and parishioners gathered in Cardiff for a new initiative, “Social Action Roadshow”, on 17 May. Archbishop Stack said: “This whole notion of ‘get people into work and suddenly everything will be solved’ is not a solution to the poverty crisis ... we have 690,000 adults and children in Wales below the poverty line.” He added: “If we don’t give our young people the tools, then they’re bound to repeat the cycle of poverty.”

The Government sets the poverty line in the UK at 60 per cent of the median UK household income. There are around 13 ­million people defined as living in poverty in the UK.

The Archdiocese of Cardiff and Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) jointly organised the event, aimed at answering Pope Francis’ call to be a “poor Church for the poor”. Helen O’Brien, the chief executive of CSAN, said that Churches are responding to the crisis. “Catholic charities and communities are witnessing soaring levels of poverty across England and Wales, with more families struggling to meet basic living costs,” she said. “Church communities and projects have been at the forefront in responding to these growing needs, supporting families on low incomes ... and assisting people who are homeless.”