poverty affects 5.1 million people, with those under 30 particularly affected

The latest report from Secours catholique, published on November 14, reveals increasing poverty with 93% of households supported by the association living below the poverty line. A dramatic observation also established by the inequalities observatory, in a report published on December 3.

There are 5.1 million of them. This is the number, in France, of people living below the poverty line, or 8.1% of the population. “Poverty is not exploding, but it is gaining ground,” indicates the report of the inequalities observatory, published on December 3. A situation also observed by Secours catholique.

This year again, the association notes the increase in precariousness in France and in the Gironde region. Among the households supported by the association, 93% live below the poverty line with a median income of 518 euros. Worse still, almost two thirds earn less than 300 euros per month.

In Gironde, more than 1,500 people are welcomed each year. “Many women, single mothers”, specifies Nicole Nadeau, president of the Gironde delegation, with however a clear increase in the presence of single men, by 14% in 2023, almost double the number last year. “We also observe a majority of people who live alone, single-parent families,” she adds. If the average age is generally around 43 years old, 25-39 year olds represent the category of people most present among the beneficiaries.

Above all, the report highlights the difficulties of access to rights for beneficiaries, due to “the dematerialization of procedures and the distance of public services from municipalities”. As proof, “in the 1960s, 21 % of municipalities had no commerce and no public services. In 2021, it's 60%, says Nicole Nadeau. No longer having a physical person in front of you can be very complicated, especially for people who have difficulty filling out applications.”

In its report, the inequality observatory indicates that in 20 years, the standard of living of low income people has only increased by 60 euros, from 772 euros to 832. Today, the poverty threshold is established at 1000 euros per month. “Two decades of the spread of poverty and the stagnation of low incomes weigh heavily on the outlook and the feeling of abandonment of popular categories by political leaders. regrets the observatory of inequalities.

These low incomes also lead to fuel poverty. In its report, the observatory specifies that 62% of the poorest recognize that they could not cope with an unexpected expense of 1000 euros. Half cannot change a piece of furniture that is out of order. Budgetary constraints which also push families to go without meals or heating. “Around a quarter go without meals and heating. details the report.

The report also points to territorial disparities. “Medical deserts and school closures are perhaps the most glaring manifestation, but the movements of concentration and workforce reduction have also affected other essential public services for the most vulnerable, such as CAF or France Travail”, alerts the document. In rural areas, only 10% of households have access to a Maison France Travail, compared to 75% in denser municipalities.

In 2023, it is in New Aquitaine that the share of people receiving family allowances remains the lowest (25.5%). “Between 2020 and 2023, the rate of non-take-up of RSA among households hosted in New Aquitaine, whose reference person is of French nationality, increased by 28.4%”, the report states.

A dynamic that is observed in Gironde. According to data communicated by the delegation, in 2023, for example, of the 114 families eligible for RSA, 33% have not requested it. Secours catholique mobilizes 58,000 volunteers in France, many of them in Gironde, to deal with this situation. “If we volunteer, it’s because we want to give our time and our energy. We roll up our sleeves,” eexplains Nicole Nadeau.

On a daily basis, these volunteers witness the distress of beneficiaries faced with the complexity of administrative procedures. “We really observe a distancing of people, the more precarious they are, the more complicated the services for access to rights are, explains Olympe Larue, facilitator at the Bordeaux Day Stop. Unfortunately, they often become discouraged after many administrative procedures, lose confidence and feel distrust towards institutions.”

There is more and more separation because some no longer even have identity papers. The decline is more visible because the domiciliation and banking access procedures are more complicated.

Olympe Larue

facilitator at the Day Stop at Secours catholique Bordeaux

Faced with this observation, the Gironde delegation decided to set up an on-call service twice a week to respond to this growing need for administrative support from beneficiaries. “We try to give them confidence, show them that they can be helped and that it is important to access these services.”

Especially since people in an irregular situation represent 42.8% of Catholic Relief beneficiaries. “This is a particular audience, because their access to the law requires an application for a residence permit and some do not want to start the process straight away because they know that there is an essential period of presence in France. We have many people who remain in this precarious situation, working illegally”, underlines Olympe Larue.

Since October, volunteers from the Gironde delegation, trained in legal and administrative issues, have welcomed beneficiaries and hope to deploy the system in other structures in the city.