Questions in writing about impending energy poverty
To the bench of mayor and aldermen
Postbus 1992
6201 BZ Maastricht
Maastricht, 7 October 2021,
Subject: questions in writing about impending energy poverty
Sincere bench,
Sky-high energy prices are keeping Europe under its spell. The prices of gas and electricity have gone haywire. Many households are at risk of being unable to pay their energy bills. Petrol, gas and electricity prices are currently rising to record highs. Citizens who now have to conclude new contracts pay double the price per cubic meter a month.
As a result, many households are affected. Energy poverty is on the rise. Citizens spend more than 10% of their income on energy costs. In the Netherlands this equals to about 650,000 families.
With winter approaching, a disaster scenario threatens to occur. Many families in Maastricht are below the poverty threshold. This week, during the discussion of the 50-family approach and the visitation report on manageability of the social domain, you mentioned that 2000 children in Maastricht live in poverty. Due to this new development, Party Maastricht Safe foresees humanitarian and financial problems for many citizens and families in Maastricht.
Party Maastricht Safe has the following questions:
- Every person has a right to primary needs such as a warm home, what will you do for the people who cannot afford this?
- Are you aware of the fact that this concerns citizens who have already been affected by the cutbacks in the social domain? If so, what does this mean for the ambitious plans regarding poverty policy?
- Is there an action plan for this problem? If so, can you share this plan with us?
Awaiting your reply,
On behalf of the group of Party Maastricht Safe,
Bert Garnier
councilor
