Caritas: Significantly more social counseling – salzburg.ORF.at
Business
Caritas reports that social counseling has increased significantly. Numerous victims asked for help for the first time. According to Caritas, inflation has already reached the so-called middle class. Increased prices for energy, mobility and housing, but also food are becoming more and more of a challenge.
The number of those supported by social benefits from Caritas has been very constant so far. Caritas in Salzburg knew how many applications to expect. Now people are also asking for help who did not believe that they had to be temporarily dependent on external support, says Caritas Salzburg Director Johannes Dienes: That was already apparent during the Corona period. The Teufelswelle has now increased the number of people coming to us who simply can no longer afford to live like this.”
Single parents and large families are most affected
Single parents but also families with many children and pensioners with low pensions are most affected. According to Caritas, however, it is also becoming apparent that the middle class is always seeking help.
Caritas calls for early support and donations
The Caritas director welcomes the government’s one-off payments, but at the same time calls for longer-term, sustainable support for lower-income groups. In the transitional period, donations are also needed so that the people affected by Caritas, who can no longer afford the apartment due to the sharp increase in rent and energy costs, can provide emergency aid.
The Caritas director also monitors with concern that high loans with low incomes can hardly be managed anymore due to inflation. This could exacerbate the already tense situation.