How Gentrification is Pushing People into Poverty
Since the Industrial Revolution, urban areas have housed the poorest members of society. Cities offered job prospects and low rent which caused people to flock to them in search of better opportunities. In recent years gentrification has transformed these working-class communities into more affluent ones, pushing their residents out with nowhere to go. Blocks of tenement flats which previously housed families are now being used as student accommodation throughout the UK. Local businesses have been forced out and replaced by overpriced coffee shops and Instagram worthy brunch spots. Working-class culture is being erased, leaving behind the question; where will the people go?
As gentrification becomes more frequent, the rate of homelessness in the UK increases. According to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, there has been a 26% increase in people sleeping rough in England since 2011 with an estimated 2688 individuals rough sleeping in Autumn 2020. It is no coincidence that this increase coincides with gentrification allowing private rent prices to rise. According to HomeLet, the average price of rent for a London flat is roughly £1,572 a month. This is in comparison to £900 per month and an average of £550 per month for the rest of England in 2011. With rent prices increasing at this rate and council housing inaccessible for so many due to waiting lists, it is no surprise that people are sleeping rough in the UK.
This is further exacerbated by Landlords taking advantage of gentrification by buying properties to rent to students. At most universities, student accommodation isn’t guaranteed which means they need to rent whilst they study. SaveTheStudent has stated that some students in London are paying as much as £633 per month in rent, for a room. Even with part time work, most students need to take out student loans to afford this. With certain landlords marketing towards students, this again means there are less places for renters to live in UK cities. It also leads to other landlords feeling compelled to bump their rent up to match what the students are paying which is inevitably impoverishing people. It is becoming more common for people to have to sacrifice buying necessities to afford their rent for the month.
Clothing for those on low income has also become less accessible due to gentrification. Until the last decade, charity and vintage shops were low cost for those who needed help clothing themselves and their families. “Thrifting” is now a trend amongst the middle-class and these shops have taken advantage of that, even amongst poorer communities, by racking up their prices. A fiver used to be able to get you two or three items of clothing from a vintage shop, whereas now you would be lucky to find a scratched-up pair of second-hand sunglasses for this price. Clothing is a human necessity and shouldn’t bankrupt anyone who needs it. This societal change also means that impoverished families who are at risk of homelessness, need to shop from fast fashion brands. The clothing from these brands is low in cost but are designed with only one wear in mind. This means that the items are prone to premature wear and tear. Before you know it, you need to replace the item again.
Gentrification is expunging working-class communities and culture as it takes over UK cities. Where affordable family cafes and pubs once stood, is now a litter of overpriced restaurants and bars. This then makes it harder for people living in poverty and homeless people to access cheap food in the cities. The competitiveness of the market has resulted in city businesses trying to appeal to wealthier residents and tourists to generate profit. It also means local businesses that are clinging onto their spots in urban areas are losing customers to trendier places and at risk of bankruptcy themselves.
Cities have always been divided by socioeconomic differences. The lack of attention from local governments towards the poorer areas has always been unjust but at least the poor had somewhere to call their own. Gentrification is robbing the working-class of their sense of community and home comforts. Wealthy business owners and landlords are ultimately forcing people into poverty and in some cases, on to the street. Too many people in the UK are having to rely on charities and foodbanks for their basic needs. Communities can take action by supporting local businesses, instead of new trendier locations, and by donating any spare pennies to charities who dedicate their time to helping those suffering the most due to the impact of gentrification.
