Caritas doing government’s job

THE religious charity Caritas, in Alicante Province, has given the government a slap on the wrist. A letter of complaint of the “incessant” demands on the charity was sent by its Las Marinas Coordinator Lara Ferrandiz a month before the elections. In it she reported on the 9,000 people they have helped with clothing, food, medication and sometimes financial support and advice on searching for a job during 2010.

She called for public authorities to assume their responsibility by allocating more in the budget to social services.

These 9,000 people are spread out over several municipalities including Benidorm, Villajoyosa, Altea, Calp, Finestrat, Callosa d’en Sarria, Sella, Orzeta and Relleu.

In the Valencian Region, 29,806 women and 12,774 men were assisted by Caritas during 2010, which is 92.3 per cent more than the year before, according to regional data.

The reason for this is the “unfortunate reality that the government fails in its responsibility and are not allocating sufficient funds to Social Services,” according to Caritas.

“This means that they are not able to provide what people going through difficulties need, which is more apparent during the economic crisis.”

“For this reason we get a steady referral from Social Services at Caritas.”

By Nicole Hallett