‘The consequences of furniture poverty are far-reaching’

This is an opinion piece by Lisa Stone, Green councillor for Windmill Hill

I grew up in a house where newspapers covered the floors because we couldn’t afford carpets. For years, we didn’t have a washing machine, so our clothes were washed in the bath. At the time, I thought that was normal. It was simply the life I knew.

Today, the cost-of-living crisis means that many more families are facing similar hardships. As a councillor, I have focused much of my work on reducing homelessness, improving social housing and raising awareness of how our homes affect the environment.

Through this work, I became increasingly aware of furniture poverty. The issue brought back memories of my own childhood and made me reflect on how growing up without many basic household essentials shaped my life in ways I did not fully recognise at the time.

Furniture poverty is about far more than furniture. It is about poverty itself. When families are forced to choose between paying rent, heating their homes and putting food on the table, replacing a broken fridge or buying a bed for a child becomes impossible.

These are not failures of personal responsibility. They are the predictable consequences of living in poverty.

As a member of the council’s Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, this is an issue I have been working on for more than two years. Through my work with tenancy teams, I have seen the condition in which some council properties are left when tenants move out. To prepare homes quickly for new residents, properties are often stripped back completely.

While this can help reduce the time a property sits empty, it can leave new tenants moving into little more than a bare shell. For people already struggling financially, furnishing an entire home from scratch can be overwhelming. Moving into an empty property without the means to make it comfortable can have a serious impact on wellbeing and mental health, and BCC already support initiatives like the Sofa Project as well as funding grants through the Local Crisis and Prevention Fund.

In August, I was proud to bring together community organisations, campaigners, advice agencies and housing partners to discuss furniture poverty and explore how Bristol City Council can play its part in tackling it.

Bristol is well placed to lead nationally on this issue, and it was a privilege to work alongside Claire Donovan, chief executive of the End Furniture Poverty campaign.

As she said: “We are delighted that Bristol City Council is working with us to tackle this vital issue. Social landlords have a key role to play, with only around 3 per cent of social homes currently let as furnished. We will be supporting the council and local housing associations to introduce furnished tenancy schemes that help residents turn a house into a home.”

The consequences of furniture poverty are far-reaching. A lack of essential household goods can contribute to poor physical and mental health, disrupted sleep, financial hardship and social isolation. Children without adequate furniture often face additional barriers to studying and succeeding at school.

There is also a strong economic case for action. Tackling poverty should be seen as an investment rather than a cost.

Poverty increases pressure on health services, homelessness support, social care and other public services, while limiting opportunities for employment and economic participation. Addressing the root causes of poverty benefits both individuals and communities.

To support this work, we are developing a Bristol Charter to drive collective action towards ending furniture poverty. We hope all of the city’s housing providers will sign up and play their part in ensuring every resident has access to the essentials needed to make a house a home.

At September’s full council meeting, the Liberal Democrats are bringing forward a motion on fuel poverty. This is an issue the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee has also been addressing through our Warm Homes Plan, so it is welcome to see further attention being given to the problem.

However, it is important to remember that the most deprived households rarely experience just one form of hardship. Fuel poverty, food poverty and furniture poverty are often deeply connected. Above all, we must recognise that poverty is not self-inflicted. If we are serious about creating a fairer city, we must ensure that everyone can live with dignity in a safe, warm and properly furnished home.