A plan to tackle poverty has been hailed by council leaders as a "comprehensive response" to a devastating problem.
The final poverty strategy and action plan - alongside a child poverty action plan - was unveiled by Durham County Council at a cabinet meeting this week.
Councillor Alan Shield, cabinet member for equality and inclusion, said: "Our action plan has been updated and does contain actions to support those facing immediate financial hardship, alongside medium to long-term strategies to provide opportunities for a route out of poverty.
"Poverty is a complex issue. Its impacts are devastating. It has a profound impact on so many people, far too many, manifesting itself in many ways.
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"It blights and holds back many of our communities right across the county.
"Tackling such a complex problem, however, requires a multi-faceted approach recognising that the council alone cannot address its causes and impacts. That said, our response is comprehensive.
"We also have a strong safety net in place in County Durham to address those most vulnerable and disadvantaged residents in our society.
"To truly tackle this complex issue, however, requires a joined-up approach to ensure people in crisis are provided with the advice, guidance and financial assistance they need to provide a sustained route out of poverty.
"Ultimately the route out of poverty lies in access to more and better jobs, which is why the economic strategy that will be presented to cabinet next month and the provision of better education, skills and training opportunities are so important, alongside digital connectivity plus a well-connected transport infrastructure.
"In everything we do, we should continually seek to raise aspirations and provide opportunities for all. To achieve this, we simply cannot do it alone."
He added the council had listened to people during "extensive consultation" at a time of soaring inflation and squeezed incomes.
He said the Poverty Action Steering Group, Child Poverty Working Group and Advice in County Durham Partnership and other partners helped to shape the final plan, which has a mission statement to work together so fewer people will be affected by poverty and deprivation.
He said it aimed to use intelligence and data-gathering to target support at low income households, reduce barriers and financial pressures, promote social inclusion and increase people's and communities' resilience.
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Cllr Susan McDonnell, cabinet member for digital, customer services and procurement, said: "Whilst the scale of the challenges we face is significant, and has only increased over the last year, the scale of our response has also been significant.
"The arrangements we have in place in County Durham is the envy of many other areas."
She said the council could be proud of its council tax reduction, hardship support and welfare assistance schemes, advice on debt and benefit, food and energy support, housing payments, investment in support, holiday activites fun and food programme, warm spaces and the Bread and Butter Thing.
"These schemes have helped and continue to help thousands and thousands of the most disadvantaged and financially vulnerable households right across the county," she added.
"And we will continue to provide that safety net and build on that crisis support through the actions contained in this plan."
Resources director Paul Darby said the plan aimed to maintain crisis support and safety nets and focus on routes out of poverty through jobs, digital inclusion, training and transport, with links to help with debt, mental health and housing.
He added the plans were developed through a series of workshops and six months' consultation, with nearly 500 people taking part in discussions and others taking part in an online survey.
He said they asked whether they were focusing on the right objectives, whether there were any gaps in the plans or groups not catered for, and what more could be done.
The plan is available to view here.
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