Addressing poverty in Newport requires a multifaceted approach combining economic regeneration, housing reform, skills development, targeted social support, and community engagement. Newport faces entrenched poverty in areas like Pillgwenlly, Bettws, and Ringland, with above-average unemployment, child poverty, and low-income households. A targeted local anti-poverty strategy should reflect both systemic policy levers and place-based interventions.
The Council has attempted to address the issue in part. The city council’s cabinet has approved a new strategy designed to support residents and prevent more people from falling into poverty.
“Newport’s economic growth has yet to be shared equally”, said Cllr Deb Davies, the local authority’s deputy leader.
“Families are faced with food insecurity on a daily basis, children are growing up in poverty,” she told colleagues at a cabinet meeting. “[For] far too many, the postcode you’re born in defines your future – and that cannot continue.” A Welsh Government study in 2019 found that Newport had the highest proportion of small areas within the most deprived 10% in Wales.
Other focuses of the new strategy are on immediate support for people in poverty, awareness of various financial support schemes so that residents know what they are entitled to claim, food poverty support and engagement.
The document makes some key points about addressing poverty in Newport particularly for children. However, changes in the UK benefits system such as the removal of the child benefit cap or more widespread free school meal provision in Wales will address child poverty and hunger. Ultimately for adults the best remedy is work particularly with the much more generous amounts of the national living wage now available. Many of those in poverty in Newport live in social housing and are affected by the Benefit Cap and Bedroom Tax leaving households on Universal Credit with a shortfall of £10-£15 in rent.
In addition to the ideas in the Council’s report I would suggest the following-
Employ specialist officers able to coordinate council support including financial assistance such as discretionary housing payments, Welsh Government discretionary assistance fund, council tax debt advice and income maximisation.
Upskill customer services / revenues / housing officers to identify early intervention issues or vulnerable customers requiring support and refer on to specialist officers.
Ensure central / Welsh government financial support available to the Council particularly discretionary housing payments (DHP) is used to its full extent to meet demands. By paying a DHP towards rent arrears or a shortfall in rent due to bedroom tax you can avoid the cost of eviction including temporary accommodation or the potential break up of a family. Newport added just £20k to the DWP funded allocation for the city (£380k) but Monmouthshire found £60k and Torfaen over £175k.
Work with housing associations and other partners closely to prevent homelessness and identify benefit and council tax issues.
Advertise employment support advice to Council benefit claimants seeking work via application forms and letters to ensure services are linked together.
Ensure council tax debt recovery policy makes adequate provision for hardship particularly where the households include children, disabled or elderly people.