Claudia Monti, the President of Help on the Ground (HUT), announced in a Tuesday morning interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio that she will step down from her role due to a potential conflict of interest. Monti revealed she is taking a new position within a government ministry, details of which remain unspecified beyond its focus on human rights.
She explained the decision, stating she too needs to earn money and cannot simply “live on air and love”, a reference to the voluntary, unpaid nature of the HUT presidency. Monti will remain at the helm of HUT’s administrative board until 31 January 2026. Her successor has not been named, but the organisation’s vice-presidents are expected to assume the presidency on an interim basis.
Monti has led HUT – the successor to Caritas – since the end of April. She emphasised that HUT is “a completely new organisation, not a new Caritas,” and that its primary tasks have been finding its own identity and rebuilding trust. The Caritas scandal damaged public confidence in the sector, a challenge Monti acknowledged HUT must address. The organisation currently employs 373 people and is continuing to hire.
Part of that rebuilding effort involves securing financial support. Monti reported that HUT relies on donations and is receiving them again, with 969 donors contributing nearly €300,000 so far. These donations are not yet tax-deductible, as HUT has not yet obtained public utility status.
HUT is also participating in this year’s ‘Wanteraktioun’, the winter shelter programme for homeless people running from 15 November to 15 April. Monti noted that the initiative, which provides a bed and a meal, has already seen high demand. She expects the capacity of 250 beds will likely be reached again this winter and highlighted that many seeking help are women, including women with children.
