Calls for government taskforce to tackle poverty

Calls for government taskforce to tackle povertyImage caption, Patrick Lynch says more than a third of Jersey homes are struggling financiallyPublishedJust nowA coalition of charities, schools and businesses is calling on the government to create a taskforce to tackle poverty.An open letter to Jersey's council of ministers warned evidence had shown too many families were "at breaking point" as they struggled with the cost of living and one in four children were living in a relative low income household.Patrick Lynch, from Caritas Jersey - one of 13 organisations who signed the letter, said the island's government needed to work with them as they "have the expertise" to help.The Government of Jersey has been contacted for comment.Among the organisations to sign the letter include Caring Cooks, the Jersey Community Foundation and Mind Jersey.Mentorhood Jersey, Milli's Separated and Step Family, La Petite Ecole Group of day Nurseries, Geomarine, Haute Vallée School, Brighter Futures, Khora Partners, Jersey Child Care Trust and Freeda also signed the letter.The group said five other organisations and government agencies had also signed the report.Lynch said: "We need to get the right people in the room and we've had some preliminary discussions with government and we hope that that is something that they will look to do."More news stories for JerseyListen to the latest news for JerseyAttributionSoundsThe letter described how incomes had "stagnated" whilst the cost of living had risen sharply, "eroding living standards over time".It said because of this low and middle-income families were having to make "impossible choices every day" such as cutting back on food and heating and working multiple jobs at the detriment of their mental health.The letter also said evidence suggested more than a third of homes struggling financially.Lynch said the new government needed to back up what they called f...