The truth is often harsh

[Gob]

A housing association has apologised to "horrified" residents after suggesting they give up Sky TV, cigarettes, drink and bingo to deal with benefit cuts.

Eastlands Homes, which manages about 8,000 properties in Manchester, gave the advice to those affected by the new welfare reforms in a newsletter.

On the group's Facebook page residents said they were "disgusted".

A spokesman said the message was meant to be helpful but was "clumsily" written.

The advert in the newsletter read: "Can you really afford Sky, cigarettes, bingo, drinks and other non essentials?

"If your benefit is being cut and you want to keep your home you have to make up the difference.

"Non-essential items won't matter if you lose your home. Start budgeting now - we can help you do this, call us!"

From April, unused bedrooms in social housing will be subject to an under-occupation charge under changes to the benefits system.

In response to Eastlands Homes advice, resident Sue Taylor wrote on Facebook: "Absolutely horrified and disgusted by the comments on your circular, it is truly appalling."

Another resident, Ruti Tutti, said: "In the next newsletter....will it be suggesting that those residents who actually have any money left to eat stop doing so?"

The group published a statement on its website, stating: "We're sorry if our article offended you.

"We've lobbied continuously against the government cuts which threaten the quality of life for many of our customers.

"We've increased the range of support and advice for anyone struggling in the face of these cuts as you will see from our newsletter.

"We know there will be stark choices - our message is that we are here to help wherever possible and we're sorry if we worded that clumsily."

[rubato]

"...

Another resident, Ruti Tutti, said: "In the next newsletter....will it be suggesting that those residents who actually have any money left to eat stop doing so?"
... "

Maybe just cut back on the frijoles?

yrs,
rubato

[Joe Guy]

Ruti tutti tutti and a good night nurse!

Pardon me.

Brought back an old & probably distorted memory.

Carry on...

[Scooter]

I don't suppose they figured that it would come across like an incredibly stereotypical portrayal of people on social assistance. Which it is.

[Gob]

Unfortunately stereotypes often have a basis in reality...

[Scooter]

True. It doesn't make them any less insulting to those who don't fit them, though. If I were on social assistance, getting barely enough to cover the cost of shared accommodation and having to stretch my grocery budget by regular trips to the food bank, I would be pretty pissed if someone accused me of spending my money on bingo and cigs.

[Joe Guy]

True. It doesn't make them any less insulting to those who don't fit them, though. If I were on social assistance, getting barely enough to cover the cost of shared accommodation and having to stretch my grocery budget by regular trips to the food bank, I would be pretty pissed if someone accused me of spending my money on bingo and cigs.

Nobody was accused. People were advised however "clumsily" to spend their money wisely.

People who aren't spending their money on those things have no reason to be offended.

Unless they are they are the type who look for reasons to be offended.

[Gob]

[Scooter]

People who aren't spending their money on those things have no reason to be offended.

Perpetuating stereotypes is always offensive. Are Jews who view cartoons that portray them as money grubbing fiends with huge hook noses "looking for reasons to be offended" if they object to such portrayals even though they don't resemble the stereotype? Then why should it be any more acceptable to make such generalizations about people on social assistance?

[rubato]

It comes off has hectoring and paternalistic; assuming that people on public assistance are all stupid children who don't know that you have to budget.

yrs,
rubato

[dgs49]

I grew up in a household of 9 people where we had to watch every dime. I got my first new suit when I was 16 and bought it myself.

And yet there was always beer in the house, and my parents smoked, between them, five packs of cigarettes a day, and played poker for hours a couple times every month.

If anyone had even suggested to my parents that they were not spending their money prudently, they would have been indignant and insulted.

[Crackpot]

And look how well adjusted you turned out

[oldr_n_wsr]

Lately, most of us have to do more with less. Reminding people of that is not a problem. The wording might be just the thing to wake some people up.

Here in NY if you are on foodstamps, cigarettes and alcohol cannot be bought with the stamps (actually a card), although there are ways around that.