Debt by Design: The Lived Experience of Racialised Poverty and Debt
Debt is often presented as the result of poor choices or bad financial management. Debt by Design tells a different story.
Through 17 case studies, the report shares the lived experiences of Black and Brown people and migrant communities facing poverty and debt across the UK. Their accounts show how low pay, insecure work, high living costs, immigration rules and limited access to public support leave many households without enough income to meet their basic needs.
Debt as Survival, Not Choice
For the people featured in this report, debt is not about unnecessary spending. It is used to pay for food, rent, heating, transport and childcare. It becomes a means of survival within a system that prevents people from building financial security.
A Companion to Drivers of Debt
A companion to our Drivers of Debt report, Debt by Design brings the research to life through the voices of those directly affected. It also shows why addressing racialised poverty requires more than helping people manage debt. It requires a shift in power, resources and ownership towards communities.
It requires a shift in power, resources and ownership towards communities.”
Read the Full Report
Read the full report to understand the lived experiences behind racialised poverty and debt, and what needs to change.
