A coalition of charities, schools, and businesses is calling on the Government of Jersey to form a taskforce to tackle poverty, because apparently the cost-of-living crisis isn't solving itself. In an open letter to the island's council of ministers, the group warns that too many families are 'at breaking point' - which is polite bureaucrat-speak for 'things are bad.' The letter notes that one in four children live in a relative low-income household, and more than a third of homes are struggling financially.

Patrick Lynch, from Caritas Jersey - one of 13 signatories including Caring Cooks, the Jersey Community Foundation, and Mind Jersey - said the government needs to work with them because they 'have the expertise.' Five other organisations and government agencies also signed the report, apparently forming a support group for people who've noticed the economy isn't working.

The letter describes how incomes have 'stagnated' while the cost of living has risen sharply, 'eroding living standards over time.' It adds that low- and middle-income families are making 'impossible choices every day,' such as cutting back on food and heating or working multiple jobs at the expense of their mental health. In other words, they're choosing between eating and staying warm, which is not exactly a fun game.

Lynch noted that during the election, all 92 candidates mentioned the 'cost of living crisis' but never offered concrete solutions. 'Our growing frustration during April and May and into the beginning of June was that they all talked about it, but never seemed to quantify it or actually give any ideas of which would actually fix the problem,' he said, capturing the essence of political discourse everywhere.

The organisations warn that if nothing changes, Jersey could see reduced workforce participation, increased pressure on health and social services, and poorer outcomes for children. The letter bluntly states that you 'cannot build a sustainable economy on financially unstable families.' It calls for 'bold and systemic change, not incremental adjustments' - because small tweaks aren't going to cut it when people are choosing between groceries and rent.

Recommendations include working with signatories to understand families' real struggles, identifying where current systems fail, developing 'practice, sustainable and ambitious solutions,' and building a 'more joined-up and preventative approach to family wellbeing.' The Government of Jersey has been contacted for comment - presumably they're busy forming a taskforce to form a taskforce.