It is this latter approach which must be supported when destitution is understood as the non-realisation of various ESCRs. When destitution is viewed as a ESCRs issue, those who are only able to meet their essential needs through a reliance on charity must be considered destitute. This is because ‘Human rights are not a matter of charity’ and charitable provision is an inadequate mechanism for realising ESCRs. Given that charity ‘involves neither a right of the individual nor a duty imposed on the state’, unlike legally guaranteed entitlements such as adequate social security, those reliant on charitable provision are unlikely to have any means for enforcing any claim, nor in fact have any claim, to charitable assistance. Thus, if the donor becomes unable or unwilling to continue in their provision of these basic necessities the recipient will lose this source of access. Not only does it follow that charity is an inadequate mechanism for realising ESCRs and as such tackling destitution but, it also follows that, those who can only meet essential needs on account of charitable provision are destitute.
When individuals are forced to rely on charity to realise their rights to food, clothing, housing, water, and/or sanitation this is indicative of structural and policy failings likely in relation to the right to social security. The current debate concerning the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit is indicative of this.