Claire Starr/BBCGaynor Lake contacted the charity after having heating issues which did not get fixedA charity has published a report which says people across the South East are on average in debt of £14,000.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) works with local churches across the region and said on average it will take 10 years for someone to repay this level of debt.
Gaynor Lake, who contacted the charity when she had heating issues, said things "escalated from there", with her debts reaching £26,000.
A government spokesperson said: "Our efforts to turn the tide on poverty after years of rising hardship are making a real difference - household incomes have risen 5% in real terms, around 100,000 fewer children are in deep material poverty and food bank usage has fallen."
Gaynor, who is from Woking, told BBC South East: "My gas bill was higher where I was trying to get heating in the house, but all my bills were going up - this was over a 10-year period.
"It was hard and even though I got a winter fuel payment, it was gone.
"I was getting through £100 a week when it was so cold."
When she approached the charity, she had £26,000 of debt and it said this would usually take around 20 years to repay.
But, it recommended a Debt Relief Order, which has given her the opportunity to reset financially and rebuild some stability.
She is now managing her budgeting carefully and is beginning to regain control of her finances.
The government added: "Our landmark Child Poverty Strategy will lift 550,000 children out of poverty in 2030 and we're helping drive down the cost of living, by raising the National Living Wage and the first ever sustained above inflation increase to Universal Credit."
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