Poverty reduction
More than 700'000 people in Switzerland live in poverty, including over 100'000 children. Twice as many people live just above the poverty mark. Single mothers and people with little or no education are disproportionately affected. Many of them work for low wages or in insecure, precarious employment.
Caritas is committed to a Switzerland without poverty. Through a wide range of projects and services, we provide financial support to people on low incomes, strengthens their social participation, and advocates for fair political conditions. Our goal is to enable those affected to improve their living situation in the long term and to participate actively in society.
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peoplein Switzerland are considered to be affected by or at risk of poverty. They have a significantly lower income than the general population—less than 60% of the median income.
(2023)
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childrenin Switzerland live in poverty. These children already have poorer starting opportunities when they enter kindergarten. This has serious consequences because a lack of education increases the risk of poverty.
(2023)
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Personenare poor despite being in gainful employment – they are known as the working poor. Families are particularly affected because they have to juggle work and childcare, and children incur high costs.
(2023)
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francsis the monthly amount a family of four people affected by poverty has to live on. For a single person, it is 2'315 francs. This must cover housing and healthcare costs, food, clothing, transportation expenses, etc.
(2023)
Often invisible, but with severe consequences
But what does poverty actually mean in a rich country like Switzerland? People who do not have enough money to cover their living expenses are considered poor. This means, for example, that families live in apartments that are too small or cannot afford to visit the dentist.
Poverty is usually not visible and therefore often remains invisible to the public. However, the consequences are severe: social contacts are lost, it becomes increasingly difficult to connect with society, and there is a lack of prospects. In addition, poverty is often passed on from one generation to the next.
Poverty can happen to anyone
Poverty is not a personal failure. Rather, it is the result of circumstances beyond the control of those affected. If people lack educational qualifications, have restricted physical or mental health, or have an uncertain residence status, it becomes more difficult for them to secure their livelihood.
When such individual factors are compounded by structural barriers such as the inability to balance family and work, a lack of affordable housing, precarious employment conditions, or rising health insurance premiums, the spiral of poverty begins. Sudden life events can also lead to poverty, such as divorce, serious illness, or fleeing to another country.
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Header image: © Dominic Wenger