The 2016 statistical report by Secours Catholique paints a picture of France marked by poverty, where territorial disparities and inequalities continue to widen.
Bernard Thibaud, Secretary General of Secours Catholique-Caritas France, comments: “We are witnessing a growing impoverishment of families.”
The association calls on all candidates in the 2017 elections to make ending poverty the top priority.
“For ten years, this precariousness has been increasing, and we have not been able to reduce poverty in our country. This undermines the foundations of our society. The fight against poverty, especially against long-term unemployment, should be pushed to the forefront of the electoral campaign, which, unfortunately, is not the case,” emphasizes Bernard Thibaud.
The findings are unequivocal. Year after year, the statistical report by Secours Catholique highlights a persistent level of poverty and society’s inability to mobilize to reduce it.
More worryingly, certain segments of the population see their situation deteriorating: families, women, children, and people of foreign origin.
Nearly 9 million people, including 3 million children, live in poverty in France. We observe a growing precariousness among families, women, and children, as well as people of foreign origin, with more individuals having no resources and living in very unstable housing. Contrary to popular belief, this increase is not due to the rise in the number of migrants present in the country but because the situation of this category of individuals is becoming increasingly fragile.
In The State of Poverty in France, Secours Catholique emphasizes that people encountered on the ground seek material assistance (particularly food), but also listening and reception.
This proves that “poverty is by no means only a monetary reality; it also has a moral dimension,” notes sociologist Nicolas Duvoux. People without resources suffer primarily from isolation and need to share their distress.
