Fighting Poverty and Inequality – task of the health- and welfare worker? Poverty and Inequality in the EU and its Impact on the social worker Input by Quinta Ansem

Content of the presentation A quick story about EAPN Being poor in the EU The effect on People Experience Poverty Equality versus Inequality The effect on health- and social workers Some questions to be answered

EAPN Origins Established in 1990 A network of independent NGOs Defending what?

EAPN Membership and Financing 26 National Networks 23 European Organisations financial support?

What do we know about Poverty in the EU? EU Poverty Programmes Social OMC Progress?

Poverty in the EU (2007) 60% of median equivalised income EU Average 17% (79 million people) 25% Romania (83 Euro) 10% Netherlands (910 Euro) 10 % Czech Republic (271Euro)

In Work Poverty (2007) In work poverty rate EU Average 8% of working population (18 million people approx) 14% Greece (510 Euro) 3% Czech Republic (271 Euro)

Significant damp problems in housing EU Average: 18% 37% Poland 5 % Malta and Finland

Lack of indoor flushing toilet for sole use of household EU Average: 4% (18.5 million people) 44 % Romania, 34% Bulgaria, 1% EU 15 (the old members of EU) 3% Slovakia

Material Deprivation in the EU Basic necessities EU Average 17% 45% in Latvia (Romania and Bulgaria higher) 3% in Luxembourg 6% Sweden and Netherlands 40% below poverty line but ……………….. 13% above the poverty line

People Experiencing Poverty (PEP) I am undocumented, so for you I dont exist waking up in bad housing conditions which saps the will to do anything being paid regularly, but my debts still mounting up anyway hard to talk about, but when I did start to talk to others I felt no different from them and I wasnt embarrassed

Social protection – a cost or an investment? Social Spending reduces risk of poverty Increased expenditure on social protection

Conclusion Effective Social protection systems not only reduce poverty, and increase security, but provide an essential platform for participation, and social cohesion as well as supporting growth.

Trends in Inequality USA

Innovation

Trust

Mental Health

Violence

Wealth and Inequality in the EU EAPN Motto: You cant speak about the fight against poverty and remain silent about wealth

Building Trust: The role of Democracy More Equal Societies work better for Everyone The rich developed societies have reached a turning point in human history Politics should now be about the quality of social relations and how we can develop harmonious and sustainable societies And doing that in respect and support with those who need the respect and support the most.

The impact of inequality on the health- and social workers Good intentions Increasingly numbers of poor matching mental and physical health Work Overload Little effects low salaries

Area of tension Most Welfare- or Health worker is paid out of public money Policy changing's (political changes) Being subsidizes No (or little) cooperation with local government Only project finding No (real) participation from the PEP

Question for the discussion Can the health- and welfare worker really make a difference in fighting poverty and social exclusion? Yes…. or No? Changes? And how can the PEP be involved in this fight?

The basis thinking of EAPN Netherlands Giving the oor an equal chance to participate in all kind of processes, is a vital part of fighting overty and social exclusion

Building Alliances for 2010