Caritas denounces the difficulties in registration
The difficulties that certain councils pose in the right of registration have been denounced by Càritas again, this time by Càritas Catalunya, on Tuesday 9 July at the presentation of the 2023 report at the Càritas d’Urgell headquarters. According to Francesc Roig, president of Càritas Catalunya, “there are many invisible people who are not registered and who live in our environment.”
Basic rights violated in our society
The right to registration is just one of the basic rights currently violated in our society. Other rights that are also affected are access to decent housing and work, as well as a minimum income that allows a decent life. Despite the data on poverty and social exclusion in our country, the reality is that only 9.8% of people in a vulnerable situation receive the Minimum Vital Income or the Guaranteed Citizenship Income (https: //correccioencatala.cat/com-estructura-text-catala/).
Arrears in public subsidy payments
In addition to the difficulties in registration, there are also delays in the payment of public subsidies from the Generalitat, which are bringing the entities of the third social sector to a borderline situation. Archbishop Joan Enric Vives has expressed the importance of an improvement in the formulation of calls, justifications, payments and the calendar to guarantee the economic sustainability of social entities.
Violation of rights and social revolt
All this violation of rights has led Francesc Roig to denounce that we live on a glass roof, very fragile, so fragile that at any moment the spark of social revolt can jump, which is currently contained by the submerged economy.
Relevant data from the 2023 report of Càritas Catalunya
Càritas Catalunya’s 2023 report reveals relevant data on poverty and social exclusion. The feminization of poverty stands out, as 59% of the people served are women. In addition, 1 out of every 2 households served have children and teenagers. 50% of the households served do not have decent housing and 41% of the people are in an irregular administrative situation. It is also highlighted that 22% of the people served have a precarious job and 46% are unemployed (https://materials.campus.uoc.edu/continguts/PID_00294231/index.html).
Model change in food donation
Cáritas managers have stated that a change in the food donation model is taking place, moving from in-kind distribution to the implementation of the wallet card. This paradigm shift requires reflection on the part of Cáritas to reorient this vital service (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
Participants in the presentation of the 2023 report
In the presentation of the 2023 report of Càritas Catalunya, Mn. Josep M. Mauri, vicar general of the diocese of Urgell; Josep Casanova, vice-president of Càritas Catalunya and director of Càritas Urgell, and Marta Fortuny, coordinator of the Social Area of Càritas Catalunya and deputy director of Càritas diocesana d’Urgell.