Caritas Luxembourg has announced that it received more than 300 requests for financial support through its Corona-Helpline over the past few weeks.

Since its implementation last month, the Caritas Corona-Helpline has received over 300 requests for help from people who can no longer make ends meet because of the COVID-19 crisis.

According to Caritas, most of the people who contacted the helpline are those who up to now did not require social assistance because they managed to survive on various odd jobs, limited temporary work assignments, tips in addition to their low salary and so on. For most of them, this is their first time contacting a charity for support. And while the majority still manage to pay the rent and bills, they have nothing left to buy food. Some find themselves in more desperate situations, unable to pay even their rent or bills. Meanwhile, others are in an irregular situation and have no resources at all. Caritas added that all sectors have been affected, with people working in the construction and catering sectors and temporary workers being particularly represented among those having contacted Caritas Luxembourg for emergency assistance.

In response, Caritas Luxembourg provides these individuals, in consultation with the social office of their municipality, with emergency financial assistance to pay their rent or an invoice, gives them access to social grocery stores to do their shopping and distributes vouchers to those who have specific needs. The non-profit also directs people who have difficulty finding accommodation to its housing service and other competent services, as well as trying to regularise the situation of undocumented people.

Nevertheless, Caritas Luxembourg has stated that it expects even more people to contact them for help. President Marie-Josée Jacobs commented: “A lot of people had a little bit of savings aside for the unexpected. When these are exhausted, and unfortunately this will soon be the case, these people will need support. In addition, many people will only be affected in a few weeks or months, when the companies they work for can no longer keep them".

The Caritas Corona-Helpline can be contacted via email: helpline@caritas.lu or  tel.: 402131- 999. Support is offered in ten languages.

This emergency assistance initiative has been made possible thanks to donations.