Poverty and Progress? 125 years on from Rowntree’s study of life in York

To mark 125 years since Rowntree’s pioneering work on poverty in York, the University of York’s Cost of Living research group has published a review of contemporary evidence on living standards in the city today.

The report, titled ‘Poverty and Progress? 125 years on from Rowntree’s study of life in York’ links University of York research with lived experience, seeking to show how the data can translate into real-world solutions.

York is now one of the most affluent cities in the North, yet thousands of local residents are struggling financially.

• Nearly 1 in 5 local children live in relative poverty after housing costs, with low-income families facing higher relative poverty rates than equivalent households in London.
• Soaring housing and energy costs, fragmented support services, and a tourist-centric city centre leave many low-income residents feeling isolated and priced out of civic life.

The report examines policy interventions that could alleviate issues of poverty and inequality in the city, and charts the living experience of those who live and grow up with poverty in York today.