Concerns are growing regarding the financial stability of numerous Caritas programs across Germany, according to the organization’s president, Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa. Addressing the news portal T-Online, Ms. Welskop-Deffaa highlighted the precarious funding situation impacting many initiatives specifically designed to address poverty.
She indicated that regional limitations are increasingly being encountered in areas requiring prompt and direct assistance, underscoring a need for greater flexibility in resource allocation. While advocating for additional funding derived from church tax revenue, Ms. Welskop-Deffaa clarified that Caritas’s funding model is diverse. The organization primarily relies on government subsidies, revenue from its own services and private donations, similar to other social welfare providers.
The funding streams for specific sectors, such as elderly care, are predominantly sourced from insurance contributions and individual payments, irrespective of the operating entity. However, Ms. Welskop-Deffaa emphasized the essential role of church tax revenue in supporting crucial services where public funding is either absent or insufficient, including homeless assistance programs and services offered at train stations.
Responding to perceptions about the organization’s workforce, Ms. Welskop-Deffaa refuted the notion that Caritas exclusively employs devout Christians. She emphasized the organization’s contemporary approach as a welfare association embracing a diverse workforce from various backgrounds and beliefs. The defining characteristic, she stated, is a commitment to active compassion and a shared dedication to the ethos of neighborly love.
