Intermediate report of Caritas Corona-Helpline

Three months after its launch, here is an update from the Caritas Corona-Helpline.

From April to mid-July, 437 people contacted the helpline for mainly financial help, most of them under 40 years old (59%).   

59% of the people had never needed social assistance before.   

A total of 807 people could be helped by the helpline either through information (8%) and/or referral to another competent body (43%) and/or through one-off financial assistance (17% assistance of more than 300 euros, 19% less than or equal to 300 euros) and/or through access to social grocery stores (13%) to do their shopping.   

In 172 cases, redirection to social offices was possible. Collaborations were also initiated with other public bodies or associations.   

In mid-July, 218,337.41 euros were given in direct aid to families and individuals.

It should be noted that of the 807 persons who received assistance, 278 were children.

The Caritas Corona-Helpline continues.

People in need of help can contact the helpline until August 31st, via the following telephone number: 40 21 31 - 999 or by email: helpline@caritas.lu

Contact the helpline

Some testimonies collected by the social workers on the phone:

Hello, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the help you gave me and especially for the time you spent listening to me, advising me and guiding me. I lost my job in the restaurant sector after the Coronavirus crisis. Without you, I wouldn't have known what to do. Thank you for all the advice and contacts you gave me so that I could apply for unemployment indemnity and for looking for a new job. Thank you also for the financial support you have given me so that my children and I can get through the waiting period for unemployment benefit. "A single mother bringing up her 3 children alone

Thank you for giving me access to the social grocery store. Since confinement, my income is at a minimum and I am struggling to feed my children adequately. Thanks to the Helpline. "A single mother raising her three children

I am contacting you to tell you that I no longer need the food vouchers because I have just found a job. I should now be able to get by. Thank you again for the help you have given me over the past few months. You can now give the vouchers to other people who need them." Young man, early 20s.

Hello, thank you so much for paying my rent. With the sanitary crisis, I've lost all my income. I was working as a cleaning lady and as a cook's aid. With these two jobs, I always managed to pay the 500 euros of my rent. As I don't have all my papers, I couldn't apply for unemployment indemnity. I have just returned to work and will be able to cover my costs from next month. Thank you! "Woman, in her fifties