We know from our research work that women often bear the brunt of poverty in their
homes as we have detailed in Section 2.0 of this response. Women often act as the
shock absorbers of poverty going without heat, food and other essentials to protect
their children and family members when money is tight. The same can be seen with
energy costs, women will stay in cold homes through the day, only using heating
when their families are at home and will prioritise the use of hot water for their
children/family members.

Our research shows that women are struggling with the costs of the most essential
items including food and energy bills. Without help they are very vulnerable to fuel
poverty and the detrimental health impacts of fuel poverty.

The most recent official figures for fuel poverty in Northern Ireland are based on the
2016 House Condition Survey and sets the rate at 22%. However, polling by
LucidTalk on behalf of National Energy Action NI (NEA NI)2 found that 40% of
households in Northern Ireland were in fuel poverty. This polling also showed:

• 70% of households have already cut down on their central heating;
• 27% of households said they went without heating (oil/gas) or electricity at a
  point during the last 24 months because they could not afford the costs of
  energy;
• 11% of households say they are currently in debt, or have been in debt in the
  last 24 months, to their energy supplier;
• 22% of respondents had to borrow money to pay for their energy use;
• 31% of respondents say that they or a member of their household’s health and
  wellbeing has been impacted by the rising energy prices and the cost of living.
  For people in the private rented sector the figure jumps to 56%;
• 44% of respondents say that their quality of life has been impacted by rising
  costs;
• 57% of respondents were worried about paying for their energy costs.

People who experience fuel poverty face significant detrimental impacts including on
their mental and physical health. This contributes to the strain on already
overstretched public services. Women feel the impacts more severely as they try
and shield others especially children from the impacts of poverty.

This is an excerpt from the full consultation response which you can read here.