Living at subsistence level: Huge increase in requests for help from Ticino Winter Aid

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Requests for support from Ticino Winter Aid have increased significantly compared to previous years. There was an explosion in demands, especially from the unemployed.

Director Paola Eicher confirmed a report sent to the Keystone-SDA news agency from the radio and television of the Italian-speaking Swiss RSI. An accounting year for winter benefit runs from 1 July to 30 June.

Hundreds of applications

The number of support requests, especially from the unemployed, has increased significantly. These have increased by 98 percent in the last seven months compared to the previous year. There are also many demands from single parents and the working poor.

When asked, Eicher explained that most support requests are related to rent, utility bills, electricity and medical expenses. Overall, with the exception of 2020/2021, the number of applications has increased steadily since before the pandemic. As Eicher noted, there were 300 applications in 2018 and 900 last year.

Ticino Winterhilfe offers advice to the poor

Winterhilfe supports people with in-kind benefits and covers emergency bills. Offers are only for people living in Switzerland with a subsistence income.

On the Winterhilfe Switzerland homepage, it says that every request for assistance is reviewed. In addition, individuals will be informed and, if necessary, informed as to whether another organization (e.g. social welfare office) is responsible for the provision of the service. (SDA)

Source : Blick