In the context of Covid 19 : innovative social integration measures for new poverty

Abstract

Related publication (in german): https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/22446 ; In 2020, when pictures circulated in the media in Switzerland of people standing in lines of several hundred meters to receive free food, the public reacted in shock and disbelief. In the cities of Geneva, Zurich, and Basel, poverty suddenly became publicly apparent, moving from "marginal poverty" to "disqualifying poverty", a form of poverty that affects broad and heterogeneous populations (Paugam 2008). This raises fundamental questions about social inclusion: Who is poor and why? Who is entitled to assistance? (Kronauer 2002, p. 76). Our proposed paper is based on our study "Data collection: pandemic-related free food" for the city of Zurich with the questions: who are the people standing in lines? Why can't they be (sufficiently) supported by regular social services? Qualitative interviews (cf. Spradley) with experts in social work and with persons concerned revealed 9 highly heterogeneous configurations of problems. Of these, three groups (Sans-Papiers, Sexworkers and people with limited residence rights) are excluded or restricted from receiving social assistance by legal frameworks. As systemic factors, these lead to social exclusion and thus to the formation of disqualifying poverty in Paugam's sense. The results were discussed with political leaders of the city of Zurich and led to the development of a municipal pilot project. The paper discusses this collaborative knowledge building, which led to a positive impact for the social inclusion of particularly vulnerable groups. Currently, the collaboration continues through evaluation of the implementation of the pilot project. The first results will be shared in the discussion.