Despite being frequently hidden, poverty persists in Luxembourg, aggravated by significant inflation and soaring housing costs, leading to increased financial strain on a growing number of individuals.
Since 2009, the Red Cross and Caritas have been running twelve social grocery stores where those affected can get food and household supplies for little money. Our colleague at RTL.lu, Christophe Hochard, accompanied two regular clients on their shopping trip.
Once a week, Tamara, 42, comes to the shop in Differdange to do her shopping. Tamara has been shopping here for five years after she lost her job as a cleaner due to issues with alcohol and medication.
After she pays her monthly bills, Tamara just about has €35 left for the rest of the month. She has already cancelled little luxuries such as her mobile phone contract, but running costs such as her flat and utilities, alongside telephone and TV bills remain high.
Nonetheless, with support from the social grocery store, she still manages to get food on the table for herself and her seven year old daughter. Every week, she is given €25 to spend when and as she wishes. Usually she mainly buys coffee, milk, eggs, bread, "just the things one needs every day".
François Authelet, who is responsible for the Red Cross' shops, explains that those with less than €400 a month at their disposal for living expenses can be directed to these shops by social assistance. Authelet sees these shops as a means of fighting poverty.
Elias is also a regular visitor to the Red Cross shop. The widower has been shopping here for eight months, as his pension of just under €1,000 simply no longer covers everything.
There is a constant increase in customers in these shops, which Authelet links to inflation and the growing population. After all, it doesn't take much to fall into poverty: "Especially if you are alone and then have an accident or become unemployed or can no longer access money due to illness, the high cost of housing and living costs come up against you".
Not only do the social shops help people like Tamara and Elias with their shopping, they are also community centres where friendships are formed and people listen to you.
