The coronavirus crisis has resulted in an economic crisis that is only just beginning.

Some French people, already financially fragile, have fallen into poverty.

Those who were already destitute were "the first victims of the crisis," says Véronique Fayet.

The director of Secours Catholique was invited on Thursday morning on Europe 1.

The observation is chilling: the number of RSA applicants at the end of October increased by 8.5% over one year, according to a calculation tool set up by the Ministry of Health.

And this precariousness, reinforced by the coronavirus epidemic, can strike anyone.

The director of the Catholic Relief, Véronique Fayet, alert, Thursday morning on Europe 1, on these people who "fall into poverty".

With the economic crisis linked to Covid-19, entire sectors have been shut down and some people have lost their jobs.

"The salary is sometimes halved"

"We see more and more at Secours Catholique, or in other associations, people who worked, had a normal life, were in a certain fragility but were doing well, and who, suddenly, fall over. in poverty, ”she notes.

This precariousness occurs by "the loss of their job", but also by the reduction in working time: "without bonuses, without overtime and in partial unemployment, the salary is sometimes halved." 

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The director of Secours Catholique gives the example of this woman, a single mother, who lives with her 15-year-old son.

"She was doing well but now she is falling to 800 euros per month. She is forced to come knocking on the door of associations", breaths Véronique Fayet.

She also remembers this young entrepreneur in his thirties who worked in the hotel and restaurant industry before the health crisis: "he switched to RSA at 500 euros per month." 

The most deprived "have been very poorly protected"

The government has "well protected" the middle classes and workers, according to Véronique Fayet.

But the poorest, who were already in a precarious situation, were left behind.

"Those who have odd jobs, precarious work, moonlighting, temporary workers, fixed-term contracts, part-time work, have been very poorly protected and are the first victims of the crisis", she explains. 

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To give a little balm to the heart to these people "who count every penny of euros", the association launched during the end of year celebrations, an action entitled "Fraternoël".

In large bags, she slips candles, stars, Christmas stories, warm clothes or even boxes of chocolate.

Restaurant owners are also mobilized to offer good meals.

A truce for these first affected by the coronavirus crisis, which will allow us to breathe a few days before facing reality again.