Research on generation poverty in peat colonies extended

The province of Groningen and the province of Drenthe are extending the funding of research into generational poverty in the peat colonies by two years. So far, the research by the Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the University of Groningen has resulted in more attention for social and family aspects in the prevention of generational poverty and support for families. For the next two years, the focus of the research will be on the relationship between current policies and different approaches to help people out of poverty. The provinces embrace the second phase of this project.

The first phase of the research, which started in 2017, has provided insight into how families experience poverty and how financial poverty arises and persists in families. It created more insight into how families try to get out of poverty. These insights have contributed to targeted actions on generational poverty in various municipalities in the peat colonies. It provides policy that increasingly focuses on tackling long-term poverty, in addition to practical services in the event of debt and income problems. Social and family aspects are increasingly included in the prevention of generational poverty and support for families.

Improving policy and interventions

In this second phase, the researchers mainly focus on improving the effectiveness of the interventions that are carried out, by taking into account the diversity of families living in poverty. How citizens' initiatives can be used to track down more people in poverty is being investigated, and there are initiatives to bring people from different environments together and discuss this subject.

The relationship between current policy and intervention strategies of various parties in the Peat Colonies is also examined. The researchers work closely with the Alliance of Power. In this partnership, organizations in the field of welfare, care, work and housing, as well as local and regional authorities, work together to combat generational poverty.

Generational poverty

Families that have been poor for generations participate less in society. They are less likely to have jobs, volunteer less and are more isolated. This has negative effects on the health and well-being of family members and their immediate environment. Generational poverty therefore not only reduces possibilities and opportunities, but also increases the distance between groups in society.