Poverty strikes in many forms, but struggling to make ends meet in the city can be a cruel and relentless battle. Urban poverty rate is higher than rural poverty by 45%.
In Malaysia, any B40 individual living within a city’s limits is classified as poor. This category is split even further into poor (monthly household (HH) income below RM2,208) and hardcore poor (monthly HH income below RM1,169). The urban and rural poor each face different sets of challenges, with some overlap.
Urban poor families often face a lack of community support, inadequate housing, poor access to education and higher costs of living. Many are also low-skilled without formal training, making it difficult to find stable employment. Furthermore, urban poor job-seekers often have to compete with migrant labour.
Source:
https://www.wikiimpact.com
Social exclusion and stigmas associating these communities with crime and delinquent behaviour do not help. And the urban poor stay largely silent.
As urbanisation increases around the world, Malaysia has also seen a rise in rural-urban migration. However, they are not always adequately skilled or equipped to compete with city dwellers. The lack of education and skills also makes the urban poor vulnerable to exploitation. Many do not know their rights where to go if they need help and fall prey to greedy or abusive employers.
With the population rise in urban areas, infrastructure and environmental issues come to the fore. For instance, in Desa Mentari, a low-cost housing area, there are around 35,000 people living in a total of 6,290 units (13 blocks, 18 floors each). Families share rooms, and some also sub-let rooms out for additional income. In cramped quarters and with little space to breathe, health risks and crime become social issues.
The urban poor is also vulnerable to risk and the impact of crises and disasters. A clear example is the COVID-19 pandemic, where poverty rates increased nationwide. In Kuala Lumpur, hardcore poverty spiked by 270% in a mere two years, from 1,048 families in 2019 to 3,865 families in 2021.
In a study of low-income urban poor families, UNICEF-UNFPA found that this group reported the greatest negative impact resulting from the pandemic. Poverty often increases vulnerability to shocks. The lack of income due to unstable employment meant food insecurity, lack of access to education or healthcare, and declining mental health.
The multidimensional issue of urban poverty requires players from every area of society to come together with a common goal. That includes all of us. Although we may not be policymakers, corporate leaders or influencers, there are small but impactful actions we can take to assist the fight against urban poverty.
(i) Give generously to the poor
‘Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.’ – Proverbs 19:17. If we have the means, let’s give wisely and generously to help the poor.
(ii) Treat those in the service sector with dignity
Whether it’s your grass-cutter, domestic helper or the cleaner at the mall, love them as God does. That means not squeezing them for the lowest hourly wage you can get, or expecting them to work on their days off. If we help them understand their rights and treat them well, we will benefit from better service.
(iii) Pray for the urban poor
Prayer changes things. ‘The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.’ – James 5:16b. Let’s remember the urban poor among us in our prayers, that they will find stable employment to break the cycle of poverty and be kept safe from exploitation, abuse and greed.
Also, the way out for many is thorough the 5Es:
• Education
• Employment
• Entrepreneurship
• Endowment
• Empowerment
This requires Government-private sector partnership to implement. Can we do that in 2024?
Reference:
Urban poverty in Malaysia is rising. To address it, we need a mindset shift, Faithour,
21 April 2022
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