Savings with Lebenshilfe and Caritas: This is how it continues in Vorarlberg!

Savings with Lebenshilfe and Caritas: This is how it continues in Vorarlberg!

Vorarlberg, Österreich - The financial situation in the social area in Vorarlberg is tense. Social Councilor Martina Rüscher informs that savings on Lebenshilfe and Caritas have become essential. The main cause of the financial pressure has been an increase in the financing requirement of the social fund by 30 percent since 2019, which means an additional over 100 million euros for 2024. These cost increases are primarily due to rapidly increasing personnel costs and the loads from various crises, including the Covid 19 pandemic and the Ukraine War, as well as the general inflation.

Rüscher emphasizes that the savings take place exclusively in the non-in-stationary area of seven carriers, which also include Lebenshilfe and Caritas. For the organizations concerned, an approval of 92 to 94 percent of the estimated needs was promised. In order to improve the situation, one -on -one discussions with all affected institutions have already been held. Rüscher explains that the decision to make savings was not easy, especially in such a sensitive area that concerns the support of people with disabilities.

saving measures and their effects

The Lebenshilfe Vorarlberg is forced to make savings of 1.7 million euros. The planned measures include the merger of workshops, the closure of canteens and the deletion of voluntary services. Caritas will also be affected by the incisions and is planning additional closing days in several regions. These measures affect not only workshops, but also day structures from those affected.

The political reaction to the savings is mixed, with the SPÖ member of the state parliament in particular, Manuela Auer is criticizing. She sees these savings as a step backwards in inclusion and warns of the negative consequences for the affected people.

long -term perspectives

In order to counter the tense financial situation in the long term, a structural process of the social fund is carried out parallel to the budget discipline. The aim is to analyze the previous offers and use possible synergies. In addition, the state government pursues the development of its own Vorarlberg action plan Disability, which is based on the federal national action plan.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the current situation in the social area will develop and what measures will be taken in the future to ensure the support of needy groups. Vol reports that the state government has intensively checked alternatives to savings in order to maintain adequate care of the data subjects.