Why Restos du cœur are worried about the future

The portrait of Coluche in the premises of the Restos du Coeur de Toulouse.

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• With the increase in poverty, the health and economic crisis has put the Restos du cœur under pressure.

• Sophie Ladegaillerie, administrator of the organization, describes the challenges that will have to be overcome this year to continue to be a bulwark against extreme poverty.

They don't promise the big night, but just food and drink.

And with the economic crisis whose effects are starting to be felt, the Restos du cœur plan to be overwhelmed.

The association is launching its 36th campaign this Tuesday.

Sophie Ladegaillerie, administrator of Restos du cœur, describes in

the challenges that will have to be overcome this year to continue to be a bulwark against extreme poverty.

With the crisis, you expect a rise in beneficiaries this year.

What order will it be?

We believe that we will receive 1 million beneficiaries this year for the winter season which starts on Tuesday, against 875,000 for the 2019-2020 winter season.

And referring to 2008, we know that in the event of an economic crisis, the increase in the number of beneficiaries is gradual.

In 2008 it was 15% and in 2009 25%.

We therefore believe that the number of beneficiaries may increase by 25% by 2022. This would represent 225,000 more people to help.

And again, all those who could ask you do not ...

That's right.

Currently in France, 10 million people live below the poverty line, but only 5 million have recourse to food aid.

Because asking for support to eat remains a painful step to take for many.

It's hard to tell yourself that you can't be independent at some point in your life.

Especially when trouble comes suddenly after you've worked your whole life.

But once the step is taken, our volunteers know how to put them at ease.

In which regions do you already see an increase in demand for aid?

In 25% of our centers, the number of meals distributed increased by 25% compared to November 2019. The situation varies according to the departments: there is, for example, an explosion in demand in Seine-Saint-Denis (+ 45 %).

And the number of beneficiaries is increasing in large urban areas.

For example, between June and October 2020, food aid registrations increased by 46% in Toulouse and 25% in Paris.

You notice the arrival of new profiles among your beneficiaries.

What are they ?

Until now, we have welcomed many single-parent families, retirees, young people without work or training.

But here, we see a lot of poor workers arriving, who got off just before the health crisis, by working illegally, by accumulating seasonal jobs or by carrying out temporary assignments.

But since then, they've lost their jobs and didn't have a safety cushion.

Many more students are also asking us.

Moreover, today, one in two beneficiaries of Restaurants is under 25 years old.

In La Rochelle for example, the number of student beneficiaries increased by 130% in 2020.

Since the first confinement, have you recorded a drop in donations?

Usually they concentrate at the end of the year.

But this year, from the start of the health crisis, the French understood that some people would quickly be faced with financial difficulties.

Donations from individuals have therefore been significant since March.

And since they represent 50% of our funding, it was essential.

Especially since during the first confinement, we opted for an unconditional welcome of people.

Still, if the number of beneficiaries increases significantly by 2022, more money will be needed.

The Fund for European

Aid

 to the Most Deprived (FEAD) was recently voted for the period 2021-2027 and has increased to reach 870 million euros.

Do you know how much you will earn through this?

This is great news, as one in three meals we distribute comes from this fund.

And there was talk of it being divided by two.

But we do not yet know what will be the contribution to our association.

Are you worried about running out of volunteers this year?

Yes, because 40% of our volunteers have not returned to our centers since the start of the health crisis.

This is the case of retirees who feared for their health.

Of course, new people have come to join us, but that may not be enough, especially if we welcome more people.

Especially since for the time being, our distribution takes place via a drive system to allow the respect of barrier gestures.

But when the beneficiaries can return to our centers, we will need more volunteers.

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