The "harsh realities of poverty" in Northern Ireland have led to a "substantial surge" in calls to the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP).
The charity said already this year it has received more than 25,000 calls from people struggling with the "collective impact of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and social security cuts".
It comes as SVP launches its 'Beyond Breaking Point' report, which it said marked the first time it has published data bringing together the firsthand experiences of its members.
It said the report exposes the devastating impact of poverty in the north and aims to shed light on the plight of those facing hardship.
Launching the report at Stormont, the charity called on MLAs to "get back to work to meet the growing needs of the people here".
It comes as SVP said it finds itself on the frontline of the local cost of living crisis, a fact underscored by the "substantial surge" in calls to the charity.
It said between 2020 and 2021, calls to SVP’s regional office in Belfast doubled, reaching 25,285, and further escalated by an additional 50% the subsequent year, with 37,599 calls recorded in 2022.
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The charity says even in 2023, call volumes have remained persistently high, with 25,057 calls documented by the end of October.
Its report, which shares the perspective of SVP members on the cost of living crisis, reveals that the increasing cost of energy is the main reason people are seeking help from the charity, followed by requests for food.
Other major concerns include increasing poverty within working households, particularly affecting individuals engaged in zero-hour contracts, receiving low pay and dealing with childcare costs.
Lone parents and their children face the highest risk of poverty, with 35% experiencing poverty, followed by single pensioners at 21% and couples with children at 16%.
SVP attributes escalating food and energy prices at the root of much of this poverty, coupled with austerity measures.
It also said benefit reforms and the transfer to Universal Credit — with its subsequent five-week wait — were also major factors in growing struggles.
In total, 80% of members identified the wait as the key challenge facing those on benefits.
The charity said the report, which is a first-of-its-kind to collate the experiences and perspectives of SVP members on poverty, offers a "poignant narrative of the harsh realities faced by not just those on low income but those who are working too".
161 members from the Northern Region shared their experiences with the Social Justice Committee, their collective and unique experiences contributed to Beyond Breaking Point: Sharing the perspective of SVP on the Cost of Living Crisis. Read the full report here -… pic.twitter.com/JKXtIF8UKj
— SVP - Ireland (@SVP_Ireland) November 15, 2023
Mary Waide from SVP said: “The purpose of this report is to shine a light on the cost of living crisis and poverty in Northern Ireland from the perspective of SVP and to bring our solutions to the table.
"In this way, the report is a call to action to our policymakers and a blueprint for ending poverty.
“Feedback from SVP members who are at the coalface of the cost of living crisis shows the depth and breadth of financial difficulties currently being experienced by far too many households.
"While we welcome today’s fall in inflation, the reality is that even with this drop, many families remain worse off than last year when every household received the one-off energy payment.”
The charity said there is an "urgent need for political leadership to protect people in poverty as they face challenges on many fronts" and the "need for an anti-poverty strategy has never been more profound".
Ms Waide added: "Charities like SVP should be complementing government assistance, not being the first port of call for those living in poverty".