Cáritas helps 2.513.563 people in Spain in 2013, a 32% increase

MADRID – Cáritas, the church charity that operates all over the world, served 2,513,563 people in Spain last year. This represents a 32% increase of the number of people needing help, according to their annual report for 2013; and an alarming 578% more than in 2007. The 70 diocesan branches invested some €291,346,117, of which 75% comes from private donations and the rest from public funding. The report points out (and thanks) the 78,017 volunteers throughout the country, as well as the 4,171 remunerated staff, all of whom work through the 7,194 Cáritas service centres. The charity also refers to last year’s increase in resources used for strategic programmes aimed at the precarious situation of people on the margins of society, such as the homeless or the long-term unemployed.
Particular attention is being paid to especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly (€28.5 million), the homeless (€21mm), families and children (€22.8mm) and immigrants (€4.7mm).

Cáritas’ works abroad, too

The charity operates outside Spain in over 40 countries, principally in the Southern hemisphere, as well as in places where dire emergencies occur. Each country has its own Cáritas entity; for instance, above we refer to Cáritas España. It is basically a diocesan movement sponsored and run by the Catholic Church in each country or region, which last year helped some 2,509,771 people with just over €28mm. In his presentation of the report, the President of Cáritas España, Rafael del Río,said that “it is necessary to denounce the economic reasons for inequality, to opt for a society where health, social protection and housing are guaranteed for all.”