Poverty in Fürth: Personal fates and social responsibility

Poverty in Fürth: Personal fates and social responsibility

An open ear for the quiet voices of poverty – that was the goal of Diakonie Fürth's first event, which took place in the Resurrection Church in mid-October. Under the title “Poverty – in the midst of us” those affected had the opportunity to talk about their lives and share their experiences. The Board of Directors for Social Services of Diakonie, Stephan Butt, opened the evening with a keynote speech in which he emphasized that poverty is much more than just a financial problem. It is also an issue of social exclusion that drives many people into isolation.

In Germany, the image of poverty is often deceptive. Despite our prosperity, according to the... Diaconia Over 17% of the population is affected by poverty or social exclusion. While absolute poverty, i.e. an existential lack of food and housing, is rare in this country, many people have to complain about considerable material deprivation. In numbers this means: around 7% of the population, i.e. around 5.5 million people, are affected.

Recognize and address social problems

The current debate about poverty clearly shows that this issue requires more attention. The latest report from the National Poverty Conference indicates that 17.7 million people in Germany are at risk of social exclusion. Many of these people are limited in their lifestyle and do not have the financial resources that are accepted as a minimum. For single people this value is around 1,310 euros per month, for families with two children it is 2,751 euros.

Another frightening aspect is that the risk of living on the poverty line despite working full-time is significantly higher for certain groups. Single parents and refugees are particularly affected here. They are often confronted with challenges, some of which are structural in nature. Poverty is often perceived as an individual failure rather than as a social problem.

Personal stories give poverty a face

The stories told during the event made the dimensions of poverty tangible. A woman described how she lives on basic security after bankruptcy and is in social isolation. Ukrainian refugees reported gratitude for financial support, but at the same time struggled with feelings of emotional impoverishment. Such reports make it clear that poverty affects not only the wallet, but also the dignity of the individual.

In this context, it is important to mention programs such as Diakonie, which actively work to combat poverty. Offers such as debt and insolvency advice as well as the “kulturplus” project, which gives people free access to cultural offerings, play a crucial role in overcoming social injustice.

It's time to pay more attention to the topic. The “Diakonie und Du” event could be the first step in a direction that has social relevance and focuses on the voices of people who have experienced poverty. Only in this way can we overcome the deep social divides and create a certain level of equality of opportunity by working together to find solutions to the challenges that affect us all.