Dimensions of rural poverty as exemplified by Mazovia

The problem of poverty, including energy poverty, is an issue that requires constant monitoring and research. The results of two research projects presented in the article focus on the problems of poverty and energy poverty in rural areas of the Mazovian Voivodeship. The aim of the research was to analyze the situation of residents and beneficiaries of social welfare centers in the context of the interpenetration of the phenomena under consideration. It was noted that energy poverty is a new dimension of poverty in rural areas, which should not be perceived only as an aspect of income poverty, but as a separate dimension of deprivation. The research clearly shows the inextricable link between poverty and energy poverty, as evidenced in Mazovia by the overlap of both phenomena. The threat of energy poverty also includes non-poor people, but it is the poor who are most exposed to this problem. The research results lead to the conclusion that energy poverty is a serious problem in rural areas, and counteracting it requires comprehensive actions that take into account the different dimensions of poverty.