- The pandemic has hit hard on already vulnerable groups.
Many have become much poorer.
And more lonely, says Johanna Rudmark-Hagström who is social manager at Uppsala City Mission.
She notices this as more and more people turn to them for help.
According to Johanna Rudmark-Hagström, it is difficult to know exactly how many poor people there are in Uppsala, because there are also groups that do not have income support and thus "fall between the cracks".
In 2018, approximately 13,000 children were estimated to live in financially vulnerable families in the county and more than half of them in Uppsala municipality.
At the same time, 13 percent of the municipality's pensioners were estimated to live below the poverty line.
International Poverty Day
The City Mission held an open house at St. Michael's Church on Saturday to mark International Poverty Day.
One of the visitors was Bert Ericson who is an addict and has been homeless to and from for 17 years.
- The city mission has helped me a lot.
I think it is very strong that there are people who help us who are worse off in society.
I am very grateful for that, he says.
In the video above, you hear "Berra" tell how he is affected by the pandemic and the social director about the new group seeking help.