To rebuild, beyond the crisis ” “

“The quality and the stability of social relations in Spain are vital to prevent the risk of a societal fracture caused by the impact of the crisis on wages, and ensuing inequality”, states the document “2014 prospects and analyses”, presented by the Fundación Foessa (Fomento de Estudios Sociales y de Sociología Aplicada, Promotion of social studies and applied sociology) with Caritas Spain in Madrid a few days ago. A snapshot of the situation. The survey, conducted by Foessa technical committee on “Poverty and social cohesion”, shows that “the social fabric and the quality of relations in Spain shows no signs of suffering linked to the significant deterioration of the economy, housing and healthcare sectors”. For the Foessa experts, this represents “a timely opportunity to provide a response to the economic downturn, with devastating impacts on society, focusing on solidarity and sharing”. Moreover, the mean salaries of Spanish citizens today are less than it was in the year 2000. Extreme forms of indigence were exacerbated by the crisis whereby Spain continues figuring among the European countries with the most serious poverty indicators. The number of families without earnings has increased from 2 to 4% in the last trimester of 2013. The number of families in this situation rose from 300thousand in the first semester of 2007 to almost 700thousand by the end of 2013. Figures show that only one person in three has not been hit by the effects of the crisis. The people at risk of social exclusion have largely increased in the years 2007-2013. A total number of 11.7 million people (3.8 million families) has been hit by various processes of social exclusion in Spain, 4.4 million more compared to 2007 (a 60% increase). Similarly, 5 million people are living situations of extreme poverty, amounting to 82% more compared to 2007. Employment, housing and healthcare are the areas that most contributed to the social fracture. The role of the family. In this framework, the survey shows that the social capital of the Country represents a major resource, whose “preservation” is of “vital importance”. The family proves to be “a fundamental, effective element on which Spanish society can rely on to tackle complex situations”. Despite poor social policies and a flawed welfare system, the family unit – along with primary social networks and relations between citizens – continue to resist the corrosive effects of the crisis, and prove to be a foundation on which to build a better future. Another way is possible. There also are other signs for hope. Increasing numbers of volunteers and social workers devote their commitment in organizations such as Caritas. Many local organizations have pointed out that public spending in certain areas should be considered a social investment and should not be subjected to restriction measures. Social initiatives, based on solidarity economy, that are no longer just good practices of minor importance are being consolidated. Caritas is focusing its reflections on the causes of the crisis and the options aimed at overcoming it. The proposal is “to overcome together, so that nobody may feel abandoned to his/her fate, in the grips of injustice caused by a system whose weaknesses have come to the fore”. The author of the document point out: “redistributive measures for the promotion of social cohesion can wait no longer”. “Progressing towards a dualistic model – said Francisco Lorenzo, coordinator of the team of experts of Caritas Spain -leads towards lack of agreements and poor coexistence. It means renouncing a common project. Conversely, a firm commitment for social cohesion, for ‘individual recovery, will lay the cornerstone of authentic upswing, extending beyond economic indicators”. “Society – Lorenzo said – will resume confidence in those projects and institutions that will prioritize this approach”.