As far as churches, I'm finding more and more that humans are all the same. Whether Christian, socialist, literally any ideology. Most people with an ideology only want to talk about it and play at it, none of them really mean it. The bible teaches feeding those in need but not a single Christian helped me with food. Same with socialists honestly, everyone says "Hope you get it sorted comrade!" Like good wishes are going to feed me. Humans are just disingenuous creatures who want their ideology to make them feel good about themselves, but don't want to put any actual sacrifice in. I'm resigned to human nature now.
No, we should have guaranteed minimum incomes so people don't need charity food. There should be laws against stopping people's benefits so they aren't starving in the first place. When they stop your benefits you don't even get a warning period. They don't even say "We've decided to stop your benefits. we'll stop them in three months so you have three months to find a job." Or pay you while you fight an appeal. No, they just stop them instantly. Instant and total destitution.
I've had 5 different therapies and 5 or 6 different antidepreessants. None worked. How can they? My problem is poverty and they won't solve that. Therapy and meds won't numb the hunger pangs or reduce the stress of impending homelessness.
And you know what's even more insane? I developed vitamin deficiencies because of my lack of food, diagnosed by a doctor. The state's solution? prescribe me vitamin tablets on the NHS. So fucking stupid. They'll spend NHS money to treat the symptoms of deficiency but won't guarantee me enough money to live on so i don't get deficiencies in the first place.
citizens advice are already helping with my claim. neither they nor macmillan nor churches nor anyone give a fuck about my food situation or will do anything to help. they all fob me off and pass me to the next organisation, saying it's their job to help. i just don't have the energy for this any more. It's exhausting enough having literal cancer treatment, never mind starving on top of that and continually having to search and beg for food on top of that. I can't keep doing this.
Well, it seems it's about to get worse. Even if they reinstate my PIP (and they say the appeal might not be til February) they are talking about changing them to vouchers soon. That's no good to me, I need the cash to pay off my OD, buy food, pay for help around the house (can't do much since I became disabled.) It's really looking like suicide is going to be the only way out for me. I've met someone on a suicide pact forum and we're discussing methods and meeting up to help each other. Nothing is going to get better, neither in my life nor with promoting socialism. It's all pointless and I'm so tired of eing hungry and stressed all the time.
I'm desperately looking for ways to keep myself fed. However none of the suggestions have been useful. "Dumpster dive" - all the dumpsters outside my local supermarket are locked. "Go to a sikh temple or a mosque" - I live in the English countryside, there is nothing like that here. People imagine it's easier to get free food than it is.
They've said so many stupid things over the years to deny my claims. About my vision loss, the assessor once suggested that as I walk around I should just constantly rotate my head 360 degrees, that way I'll have a full range of vision and won't be partially sighted any more. They denied me at a previous assessment because i wasn't having physiotherapy for my stroke. Why wasn't I having physio? because the stroke happened during covid, and the physio department was closed. I've provided letters of support from multiple GPs, a physiotherapist, an ophthalmologist, a mental health team (because I have developed depression and anxiety due to this constant stress), the neurologist and the endocrinologist. And a social worker and a carer. Not enough apparently! So now I can starve for months while i fight this.
And you never get as long an award period as they say before they start harassing you again. I had to go through a nearly year-long appeal last time. Eventually I was awarded for 4 years. Only, the appeal had taken nearly a year, so they knocked that time off. Then they're allowed to start assessing you again a year before the award ends. So the 4 years, was really, more like 2 before I had to go through all the stress of another assessment again. It's so stupid. Multiple doctors have written letters of support saying my condition likely won't improve.
I don't live in London, I live in Devon and I already tried the local church, they said no, and were quite rude and nasty about it. Already tried olio and goodtogo, if you don't live in a city or large town they aren't much good. Also no sikh temples down here.
I love reading. My favourite series include the Earth's Children series by Jean Auel, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and the Haunted Liverpool series by Tom Slemen.
I don't even have £3. It sucks that you have to pay for everything in this life even help from fellow socialists.