Women's Experiences of the Cost of Living Crisis in Northern Ireland

Economic crises hit women hardest and the Cost-of-Living Crisis is no different. The current situation for those on the lowest incomes, where women are over-represented, is dire with significant concerns around rising levels of debt, poverty and destitution. In addition, there is no devolved Government in place to provide leadership and accountability to help to those most in need, an environment of severe budget cuts often targeted at those who can afford it the least and a chronic lack of funding for essential services including health, social care, childcare and education which too often means that women are forced to make up for cuts to these services through unpaid work. This climate which has been engineered by a policy vacuum is exacerbating the Cost-of-Living Crisis
in Northern Ireland.