Price increases, especially food prices, have a negative impact on the economy. most disadvantaged households. This Wednesday showed Caritas Barcelonaafter performing multiple surveys 600 families. 86% have stopped buying food because they can’t afford it, and more than half have had to be deprived of fresh produce, fruit, vegetables, meat or fish.
But the effects of inflationary pressure go beyond food: it also housing insecurityin the inability to open heating for more and more families or can afford drugs or follow treatments for your health. “We add crises one after another without any planning: we cannot normalize exclusion,” pleaded Cáritas’ director in Barcelona. Salvador Busquets.
“The number of people in social exclusion reaching an unprecedented level, especially in big cities”, underlines the head of analysis for Cáritas, miriam feu. The price crisis led to increases of 15% in some foods and up to 12% in supplies or shelter.
“It has a more intense effect on those with less income,” Feu continued, noting that the users Cáritas serve have accumulated over the years: Since the financial crisis in 2008, many have been stuck. coronavirus pandemic and now rising prices.
Rent, priority payment
The survey conducted in 400 households shows that the main effect is seen in food. “We’re talking about families living in rented rooms: If they don’t pay, they get kicked out,” Feu says. It is in these situations that they realize the greatest vulnerability and impact of inflation. “compulsory give priority to housing and children, many adults stopped eating directly. “Some days he likes us, others don’t,” Feu says. 43% of respondents do not have enough food and more than 60% cannot buy fresh produce.
As always, housing is one of the main problems identified by this social entity. Half of these households have had to leave their current addresses and are unable to cover their housing and heating costs.
The number of families unable to pay for medications or follow up on medical treatments is also on the rise. Record figures, such as the costs Cáritas incurs by paying for re-rented rooms to people in need. “We did the same survey during the coronavirus pandemic, and in these cases, it’s still higher than at that time of maximum complexity,” Feu said.
Faced with this disturbing picture, Salvador Busquets pleaded for public policies aimed at reversing inequalities and exclusion. Especially in the residential area. “In 2007 we reached an agreement for Catalonia to reach 15 percent of housing estates. Today we continue with 1.5 percent,” he complained. “Nothing was done,” he complained.
Busquets also called for better and wider benefits for the minimum income that allowed families to live with dignity. “Guaranteed Income doesn’t reach even 30 percent of people in severe poverty,” he complained. It also argued that assistance should be given to underage families for whom they depend, and stressed the need to ensure access to extracurricular and leisure activities.