Tafeln at the limit: Poverty threatens millions in Saxony-Anhalt!

Tafeln at the limit: Poverty threatens millions in Saxony-Anhalt!

Poverty in Germany remains an urgent issue that affects more and more people. According to current estimates, around 14.2 million people in Germany are at risk of poverty, which corresponds to around 15.5% of the population. These alarming figures make it clear that more and more households are struggling to make ends meet. The Social Code (SGB II) stipulates that there is a need for help if one cannot secure one's livelihood from one's own income or assets. Single parents and people with a migrant background, who are often disproportionately affected by poverty, are particularly affected.

The situation in Saxony-Anhalt particularly stands out. Around 2.1 million people live there, of whom around 554,000 (approx. 26%) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The Tafel, which plays a central role in providing food for those in need, helps around 1.5 million people in Germany every year, including many in Saxony-Anhalt. In Jerichower Land, around 850 citizens currently receive basic security and 950 people receive housing benefit. In Magdeburg the number of recipients of basic security is 2,870, while 1,395 people receive housing benefit.

The panels in focus

Food banks are an important part of social support in Germany. Every year they provide around 60,000 people in Saxony-Anhalt alone with urgently needed food. Tafel Magdeburg aims to reach around 6,000 people and provides more than 120 tons of food every year. But not only is the number of people who need help increasing, but also the demands on the food banks themselves.

The regional food bank chair Kai-Gerrit Bädje emphasizes that food banks act as “food savers” and are coming under increasing pressure in line with the increasing need figures, which have shown an increase of 10% in the last five years. Decreasing donations and increasing needs make the situation even more challenging. At Tafel Magdeburg, around 30 employees also work in job opportunities and 8 to 10 volunteers to provide the necessary help.

Overcoming poverty – challenges and solutions

How is poverty developing in Germany? The trend is worrying: in 2024, 15.5% of the population was at risk of poverty, which is almost a fifth. For comparison: in 2021, the poverty rate reached 16.9%, a record high since reunification. The problem of homelessness is also growing, with approximately 566,800 homeless people, including many who have no permanent address.

The causes of poverty are complex. Experts speak of relative poverty, which is defined as an income below 60% of the median income. For a one-person household, the at-risk-of-poverty threshold is 1,378 euros per month. The Tafel not only provides food aid, but also organizes projects for nutritional and cultural education as well as social participation. In this way, the food banks become places of encounter and exchange, where those affected not only receive food but also social contacts.

In order to effectively counteract poverty in Germany, Tafel Deutschland is calling for measures from the federal government. This includes the introduction of a poverty-proof minimum wage and the upgrading of social professions. The social responsibility lies not only with the food banks, but also with politicians, who must make structural changes so that every person can participate in the country's prosperity.

The challenges are great, but there are also numerous initiatives and organizations that are working to find a solution. “There is something going on” – it is all the more important that social cohesion is strengthened and people in need are not left alone.