Hygiene Poverty Reaches Tipping Point, Charity Warns
People previously considered financially secure are increasingly unable to afford essential hygiene products, according to The Hygiene Bank.
Hygiene poverty, the inability to afford products necessary for basic cleanliness and health, has reached a critical point, a charity has warned. Rosemary Ashworth, deputy chief executive of The Hygiene Bank, stated that the issue is now affecting individuals and families who were not previously considered vulnerable.
"We're at a bit of a tipping point so now feels like the time to do something about it," Ashworth told BBC Radio Surrey. She indicated that the "face" of hygiene poverty has changed significantly, impacting those with previously stable finances.
Essential items that people are struggling to obtain include toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, sanitary pads, and laundry detergent. However, the problem extends beyond personal care, with many also finding it difficult to afford products for maintaining a clean home environment.
A recent survey conducted by The Hygiene Bank and In Kind Direct, which polled 3,042 UK adults, revealed that one in five respondents (18%) had experienced hygiene poverty within the past six months, or had a household member who had. The survey also indicated that two in five (41%) of those affected reported experiencing hygiene poverty for the first time this year.