In fact, both social supermarkets and social welfare offices are observing an increase in clients.
Up to 30 families visit the social supermarket in Differdange every day. Most customers either work or receive the social inclusion income (REVIS). The current inflation takes a particular toll on their day-to-day lives. Teresa Miranda Gerante has been working in the small shop operated by the Luxembourg Red Cross for over ten years. Over the past weeks and months, she has noticed that people are putting fewer items into their shopping baskets. After all, prices are also increasing at the social supermarket.
However, those who have no money of their own receive the products at the social supermarket for free. Before they are able to shop there, applicants must first present themselves at the Social Welfare Office of their municipality, where they also receive advice and help with administrative tasks. Luxembourg’s social welfare offices have observed an increasing number of first-time visitors over the past months.
While applicants in the past used to be predominantly “from the lower end of the financial spectrum”, the situation is now starting to affect “a middle class”. As fees continue to increase, more and more are reaching their limits. Jean-Paul Reuter, head of the Social Welfare Office in Differdange, describes them as “a new clientele that has not been here before but that, sooner or later, will visit us more and more often”.
This also means an increased workload for the staff at the country’s social welfare offices. The majority of their work consists of providing assistance and giving advice. A third of clients needs financial help, e.g. for paying a gas or doctor’s bill, or their rent. The demand is expected to increase further in the near future.
Reuter stresses that, “of course”, people try and “get by” as long as possible with the means that they have. However, once this is no longer enough, they can turn to the social welfare offices for help. Reuter emphasises that people “should not be afraid” to visit their local office if they struggle at the end of the month. “We are not the poverty office,” Reckinger stresses, “we are a service available to everyone, to ensure that people can live in dignity”.
The social welfare offices are experiencing staff shortages at the moment, meaning that there is less time available per client. Reuter regrets that this does take a toll on the quality of the work. However, people’s issues, for instance in the area of housing, are also becoming “increasingly complex”. And on top of all of that, people now also have to deal with increasing food and energy prices.
The full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish):
