Price increases push the limits of the poor: There is a huge rush in street kitchens and Caritas stores

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Switzerland is considered one of the richest countries in the world. However, more and more people in this country are reaching their financial limits. The federal numbers don’t show that yet because they lag reality. According to the latest assessment, approximately 745,000 people were affected by income poverty in 2021. However, increasing demand in Caritas stores or street kitchens indicates that poverty is increasing.

CaritasSt. “Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, sales in our Caritas markets have increased by 40 percent,” Philipp Holderegger (53) from Gallen Appenzell tells the free newspaper “20 Minutes”. The organization alleviates and combats poverty in Switzerland. Caritas is concerned: The development is a clear alarm signal.

The poor are more affected by inflation

Although inflation in Switzerland has been significantly lower than in other parts of the world since the outbreak of the Ukrainian war on February 21, 2022, the prices of many everyday goods have increased significantly. In addition, there have been major cost increases recently in the cost of additional housing, disproportionately affecting poor people in particular.

They often live in old, poorly insulated buildings where heating costs have increased significantly. At the same time, existing rents are becoming more expensive due to the high reference interest rate. And sky-high health insurance premiums are completely absent from inflation statistics.

It is therefore not surprising that new customers regularly appear in small Caritas supermarkets. “There are new faces coming in every day right now, which is remarkable,” Holderegger told the free newspaper. Currently, 15 percent (about one sixth) of the population will have the right to shop at Caritas. “This will probably increase further next year,” Holderegger expects.

There is a rush in street kitchens

The financial hardship of many households is also reflected in cheap street cuisine offers: In Basel, demand increased by 20 to 25 percent from mid-June to September.

St. Street cuisine in St. Gallen has reached its limits. Demand has doubled since spring. St. “Initially we thought it had something to do with the cold and wet weather in March and April,” Regine Rust (51), managing director of the Gallen Addiction Aid Foundation, tells SRF. However, the numbers did not decrease during the summer months. According to Rust, the development of street kitchens clearly shows that: “This is where rising poverty becomes visible.”

Rust says if the street kitchen rush continues, you’ll need to consider moving to a larger location. This will be a huge task for the organization. It is funded by donations. But our goal is clear: We do not want to send anyone home hungry in the future. (smt)

Source :Blick