The serious social consequences of Covid-19 have marked the work of Cáritas during the second year of the pandemic, according to data collected in the 2021 Annual Report, presented this morning in Madrid. Monsignor Jesus Fernandez GonzálezBishop in charge of Cáritas Española; Breton Manuelpresident, and Natalia PeiroSecretary General, were asked to present this responsibility during a press conference held at the headquarters of the Institution.
During 2021, Cáritas invested a record amount of 403 million euros, 16.4 million euros (4.07%) more than the previous year, in its various resources and projects in Spain and in cooperation actions international in third countries. Within our country, solidarity economy programs concentrated over 79% of the overall increase in funds invested in the last year.
With a total budget of 98.7 million euros, the financial effort made on socio-labor integration paths and on insertion companies exceeded the Reception and Assistance programs (94.9 million euros). Both projects concentrated almost half of the total (48.1%) of the resources invested by Cáritas last year.
“The FOESSA report that we presented at the beginning of the year revealed that lack of employment is the main cause of social exclusion in a society like ours where the main source of income for Spanish families is earned income. The numbers of the Report reflect the commitment of Cáritas in recent years to seek opportunities for people with the worst employability profile without abandoning the response to situations of social emergency”, explained the general secretary, Natalia Peiro during the presentation of the balance of the activities.
Thanks to these available resources, Cáritas was able to support 2,621,102 million people inside and outside our borders during the second year of the pandemic (2.85 million in 2020). Of these, 1,612,972 in Spain and 1,008,130 in International Cooperation.
More people served than in 2019
Report data show that the improvement of the health crisis and the progressive reopening of the economy throughout 2021 have helped to alleviate specific emergency situations in some Spanish families. In the last year, the Welcome and Assistance program involved 1,287,382 people (1,425,991 in 2020;). The figure is 20% higher than that recorded before the start of the spread of SARS CoV-2 (1,020,176 in 2019).
“2020 was the year of the great impact of Covid-19, when specific emergency aid skyrocketed, while 2021 was the year of the downturn due to the start of normalisation. We are now returning to the trend of more long-term support because people need help for more months, but we continue to have more people in our foster network than before the pandemic,” Natalia Peiro points out. The Reception and Assistance program concentrates 79.8% of all people assisted in Spain.
Elderly and homeless
The other sections that required a greater financial effort during 2021 are closely linked to the sources of social emergency where our Confederation had to follow the priorities set by the pandemic. These are programs for the elderly (34.5 million), the homeless (35.9 million) and family, childhood and youth (27 million), to name the most significant.
The Housing program also stands out, the second factor causing the greatest exclusion among the vulnerable population after the lack of work. Cáritas has invested 12.6 million euros in this area, which has benefited 10,368 people (7,358 in 2020).
The section dedicated to international cooperation projects and strategies also deserves special mention, to which over 19.7 million euros were allocated in 2021, an increase of 3.21%.
This important economic effort (about 16.4 million more than in 2020) was possible thanks to the generous support of thousands of members, donors and private collaborators, who contributed over 279 million. Alongside this, the commitment of the various public administrations also stands out, contributing to Caritas programs for a total of 123.5 million euros.
This source of Caritas economic resources maintains the same trend as in previous years, within a range that remains between 69-71 percent from private funds and 29-31 percent from public grants.
maximum austerity
Although in the last two years the Confederation has brought into play a significant increase in economic resources due to the social impact generated by the pandemic, it has been possible to maintain the austerity target in the Management and Administration section at the same values as in previous years: 6.2 %. In other words, for every 100 euros invested in actions to combat poverty, only 6.2 euros were allocated to management costs. “We have been in this percentage of management expenses for 20 years,” stressed the general secretary of Cáritas Española.
The Report also collects data on the people behind all this federal activity, supported by 73,661 volunteers and 5,408 contract workers.
effects of inflation
Even though the pandemic isn’t over yet, it rained once again. The repercussions of the crisis resulting from the war in Ukraine and the increase in the cost of living are again strongly increasing the levels of precariousness of families.
“May 2022 inflation data is once again a pitcher of cold water for Spain’s economic and social forecasts. For the most vulnerable individuals and families, it is no longer just a setback, but an overflowing situation that requires a courageous response that responds to social needs,” said Natalia Peiro.
For a family of 2 adults and 2 children earning 800 euros a month, a general increase in the CPI of 10% means 80 euros more monthly spending for this family, which means aggravating the problems to cover essential expenses for the rent, payment for electricity, gas and filling the refrigerator. “This is an untenable situation for many families,” said the secretary general.
75 birthday
In the press conference, Manuel Bretón announced the events that have been organized to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Cáritas, coinciding with the presence in Madrid of the leaders of the 70 diocesan Cáritas participating in the General Assembly, which will take place tomorrow and the day after in El Escorial.
This same afternoon, at 7 am, an event will take place in the Auditorium Casa del Lector, in Matadero de Madrid, which intends to pay tribute to all the people who have made these 75 years of history possible. The deed, which can be followed by streamwill be hosted by Javi Nieves and Mar Amate, of Cadena 100, and will feature live music from the group Los Secretos.
And next Friday, July 1, at 18:30, a thanksgiving Eucharist will be celebrated in the Almudena cathedral in Madrid, presided over by Cardinal Carlos Osoro and concelebrated by other Spanish bishops.
“Turning 75 motivates us to keep working to help others and to give everyone the best of ourselves. And we know that with you we make it possible”, said the president of Cáritas, who expressed his gratitude “because, despite the difficulties, we continue to give the best of everyone and we strengthen ourselves as a society and Christian community to give opportunities to Pope Francis calls them discarded”.
The bishop who accompanies Caritas paused to link the work of Caritas in these 75 years to the social doctrine of the Church. “As an organized service of charity within the Church, this journey along the path of building justice went hand in hand with what we might call a golden age of the Social Doctrine of the Church (DSI), supported by the succession of great social encyclicals initiated by St. John XXIII with Peace on Earth and which will be enriched in the following decades with the teachings of Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis”.
“The story of love and service of Cáritas since 1947 – added Monsignor Fernández – has clung like a glove to the inspiring and luminous breath of the DSI, through the free commitment of several generations of people who have contributed with the best of their life to bear witness to that Samaritan Church always present on the side of the road where all the forgotten live”.
