ROMA – The number of people cared for by 20s grew by 5.5% compared to last year Help Center of the networkNational Observatory of Solidarity in Italian Stations(ONDS) going from 19,782 to 20,879, thus bringing to 166,538 the total number of women and men in conditions of extreme social marginalization who, since 2016, have found concrete help in the spaces granted on loan for free use by FS Group. This is one of the most salient data contained in the ONDS Report 2024. It immediately appears significant that, given the growth in users, the new ones – that is, those who turned to the centers for the first time in 2023 – are 60.1% compared to 63% in 2022. In other words , fewer people, compared to previous years, have left the welfare system.
Mostly men, but women are also increasing. While men remain the vast majority, with 78.1%, we are witnessing an 8.1% increase in women, who go from 4,094 to 4,425, while the number of transgender people remains essentially unchanged, decreasing by a few units. and constitute 0.3% of the total.
The age distribution is almost unchanged. With some fluctuation around a percentage point. The range between 18 and 39 years is always very high: 50% of users in 2023, compared to 51% the previous year, while those in their forties remain unchanged at around 20%.
The number of Italians is also increasing. Regarding nationality, Italians increase in absolute value by 7.1% compared to 2022, going from 4207 to 4504 but remain stable at around 22.5% of the total. EU citizens are decreasing, going from 10.30% to 8.03%. However, non-EU users are growing, going from 67.11% to 69.48%.
Morocco, Tunisia, Peru and Egypt are the prevailing nationalities. The most represented nations, in addition to Italy, are Morocco, Tunisia, Peru and Egypt. The leading European nation is Romania, which has been declining for several years now, going from 5.15% in 2022 to 3.8% in 2023. What is striking, however, is the increasing trend of Bangladeshi citizens, who have more than doubled compared to 2020: a sign that even a social group strongly protected (and often exploited) by the network of compatriots is losing even the minimum of security it had in the past.
Peruvians prefer Florence. Also noteworthy is the fact that Peruvian people are mostly present in Florence, where they make up around a third of the total users: a community traditionally linked to domestic work, which finds answers to many needs at the Help Center, in particular training .
The main demands are primary goods. The main requests presented at the counters are increasingly related to primary goods: 37.6% food support; 26.7% hygiene, more than doubled compared to the previous year. Requests for accommodation go from 19.1% in 2022 to 10.2% in 2023. Work (from 2% to 1%), health (from 2.2% to 1.6%), orientation (from 3.4% to 1.7%). These latest data must be read carefully: they do not demonstrate that housing demand has halved among poor people, but on the contrary they express the awareness of the unachievability of the dream of a stable bed place in almost all Italian cities, where social housing is significantly undersized compared to real needs.
More than 4 million social interventions since 2016. The data described brings the social interventions carried out by the companies to over 4,145,000 Help Center since 2016, approximately 610,000 of social orientation and more than 3,500,000 of low threshold, for a total of 273,000 hours of work, during which the doors opened on average 6 times per hour: a request for help every 10 minutes .
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Beyond the provision of immediate aid, what long-term strategies can help break the cycle of dependence on help centers and empower individuals towards self-sufficiency, particularly within the context of the shifting demographics observed in the 2024 ONDS Report?
## World Today News Interview: Rising Numbers at Help Centers Highlight Growing Social Needs
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we delve into the findings of the 2024 ONDS Report which paints a concerning picture of the growing number of individuals relying on the solidarity networks operating within Italian railway stations. We are joined by two esteemed guests to discuss these crucial issues:
* **Dr. Maria Rossi,** Sociologist specializing in urban poverty and inclusion
* **Giovanni Bianchi,** Director of the ONDS Help Center in Rome
**Section 1: The Faces of Vulnerability**
**(Host):** Dr. Rossi, the report highlights a 5.5% increase in individuals seeking assistance from Help Centers this year. What are the key socio-demographic trends emerging from this growth?
**(Dr. Rossi):**
**(Host):** Mr. Bianchi, can you elaborate on the specific challenges faced by these different demographics? What are the most pressing concerns you encounter daily at your Center?
**(Mr. Bianchi):**
**Section 2: Shifting Landscape of Need**
**(Host):**
The report notes a significant decrease in requests for accommodation, from 19.1% in 2022 to 10.2% this year. Does this imply a lessened need for housing assistance or is there a more complex explanation at play?
**(Dr. Rossi):**
**(Host):** Mr. Bianchi, how are Help Centers adapting to these evolving needs?
**(Mr. Bianchi):**
**Section 3: Rising Tide of Non-EU Citizens**
**(Host):** The report reveals a notable increase in the number of non-EU citizens utilizing Help Centers, with Bangladeshis showing a particularly significant increase. What factors might be driving this trend?
**(Dr. Rossi):**
**(Host):** Mr. Bianchi, do you observe similar trends in your Center, and how are these changes influencing the services offered?
**(Mr. Bianchi):**
**Section 4: The Crucial Role of Solidarity Networks**
**(Host):** Despite the challenging circumstances, the report emphasizes the remarkable work being done by these Help Centers. Over 4 million social interventions have been carried out since 2016. What makes this network so vital, particularly in the current climate?
**(Mr. Bianchi):**
**(Host):** Dr. Rossi, what policy changes or societal shifts do you believe are necessary to address the root causes of this growing social vulnerability?
**(Dr. Rossi):**
**Closing:**
**(Host):** This conversation has shed light on the critical role of solidarity networks in supporting vulnerable individuals. As we move forward, it is crucial to prioritize policies that address the multifaceted challenges contributing to social marginalization. We thank Dr. Rossi and Mr. Bianchi for their invaluable insights.
**(Host):** For further information on the ONDS Report and the work of Help Centers across Italy, please visit www.onds.it.
