According to the latest ISTAT report, presented yesterday to the Chamber of Deputies by President Francesco Maria Chelli, in 2023 the Italian population in absolute poverty rose to 9.8%, reaching “levels never reached in the last ten years”. In other words, there are approximately 5 million and 752 thousand Italians (almost one in ten) who live with a monthly consumption expenditure of less than €560-600 in the South, €700-800 in the Center and €750-840 in the North. These monetary thresholds (used to define absolute poverty) are considered barely sufficient to cover the expenses necessary to lead an acceptable standard of living. A parallel and equally alarming figure concerns the poverty of Italian families for which the absolute poverty thresholds are calculated taking into consideration some parameters such as the age and number of family members, the region and the type of municipality of residence. In 2023 there are approximately 2 million 235 thousand families who cannot – literally – “make it to the end of the month”.
The greatest economic inequalities especially concern the new generations: the younger a person is – underlines Chelli – the more likely they are to have difficulties. In fact, it has been calculated that 1.3 million minors (14% of the total) are in conditions of absolute poverty. Another worrying figure is that of “vulnerable” workers, as 11.5% of employed citizens are at risk of poverty (8.2% if only employees are considered). Compared to other EU countries, which have recorded – in the last five years – a moderate increase (with rates ranging between 1.1% in France and 5.7% in Germany), in Italy it has instead decreased (by 4.5%) the purchasing power of wages due to various factors such as high inflation rates, low quality of jobs, job insecurity, lack of access to quality education and social discrimination. In short, paid work is no longer – as in the past – a guarantee of economic and social well-being despite the fact that the number of employed people in Italy has never been so high for 20 years now (23 million 738 thousand in January 2024).
Compared to these data there are those relating to the wealth of the country. In 2023 the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (which takes into account only the quantity of goods and services produced without being influenced by current prices) has returned to that of 2007, i.e. before the profound economic-financial crisis following the Lehman collapse Brothers. However, if we consider nominal GDP (which is based on the current prices of goods and services produced), in the period 2019-2023, Italy was the European economy that grew at a faster rate than all the others European countries (Spain, France and Germany included).
The picture we have before us is that of a poorer Italy but with a richer economy that grows at much higher rates than its other European partners. This “paradox” explains to us why in Italy the gap between rich and poor is growing more and more, with the country’s wealth becoming increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few!
Faced with this social emergency, the Community of Sant’Egidio has launched a series of innovative initiatives and programs to offer practical support and solidarity to those living in situations of poverty and hardship.
For many years, Sant’Egidio has been managing a network of soup kitchens throughout Italy (the “Friendship Houses”), offering hot and nutritionally balanced meals to those who find themselves in situations of poverty and marginality. These soup kitchens not only provide food and physical sustenance, but also offer a place of meeting and solidarity, where people can find comfort and support in times of difficulty.
Sant’Egidio also offers legal and practical support to those struggling against poverty and social exclusion. Through support programs and legal assistance, Sant’Egidio helps people navigate the legal system and defend their rights when faced with situations of exploitation and discrimination.
To combat educational poverty, the Community organizes training courses and job placement programs that offer practical skills and vocational training, helping people find work and improve their economic prospects.
To break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion which now affects 1.3 million minors, Sant’Egidio promotes education and support programs for children from disadvantaged families. These programs offer academic support, extracurricular activities, and social and psychological assistance to help children realize their full potential and build a better future for themselves and their communities.
In the end. In addition to its direct assistance activities, Sant’Egidio also engages in awareness-raising and advocacy activities to promote greater awareness and action on the issue of poverty in Italy. Through awareness campaigns, public events and political lobbying, Sant’Egidio seeks to mobilize civil society and institutions to address the structural causes of poverty and promote more inclusive and supportive public policies.
In summary, Sant’Egidio has launched an unprecedented mass mobilization for years now to tackle poverty in Italy but it needs everyone’s solidarity. Through the website it is possible to make donations to support those who are poor, weak, foreigners, elderly and sick, restoring everyone’s dignity as a person and ensuring them a path of hope. By donating you can truly change the fate of many lives.
