The fear for one’s own existence is increasing given the rise in price. More and more people are at risk of poverty and are seeking help from Caritas: in Vienna alone, 56 percent more people are currently seeking help, in Burgenland there are already as many applications as in the entire previous year. “Many people are turning to Caritas for the first time. Most of them never thought they would ever need outside help. In a crisis, the welfare state has a double effect,” said Klaus Schwertner, director of Vienna Caritas, describing the current situation in a conversation with krone.tv presenter Conny Winiwarter.
So the queues for the food stalls are getting longer and longer and “so it goes on”. The unemployed, single parents, minimum pensioners and families are particularly at risk of poverty. “In the past, it was mainly families with more children who came to Caritas, but nowadays one child who has to go to school is enough. Parents face enormous challenges,” Schwertner sums up. The lower middle class is also increasingly experiencing financial difficulties.
Poverty is also directly related to people’s mental health. Mental illness in society is on the rise, “especially among young people”. In principle, Schwertner is positive about the measures taken by the government. If the crisis continues, more packages of measures are needed: “A rescue package is needed to prevent poverty.”
Solidarity is demanded more than ever, both from politicians and from fellow human beings. Caritas offers the opportunity to actively help through numerous initiatives, such as the current call to donate the climate bonus or the “Ein FunkenWärme” campaign in collaboration with the Kronen Zeitung.
You can see the entire interview with Klaus Schwertner in the video above.
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Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
