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Poverty in Germany is on the rise. All current empirical surveys record this ongoing trend, specifically among certain disadvantaged groups, including older women. Despite the fact that different surveys draw the objective poverty line at different absolute income levels, it is more important, from a comprehensive sociological viewpoint, to include the numerous non-monetary factors – social and infrastructural – that burden the life of a poor person both objectively and subjectively. The so-called relative poverty also examines the contextual conditions, stresses and strains in the surrounding life situations from which poor people suffer from and which limit their life chances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies among the general population indicated an association between mental illnesses and different forms of financial difficulties, such as indebtedness. Objective: Investigation of the financial burden and associated factors among inpatients and day clinic patients in psychiatric care. Material and methods: A total of 488 patients in psychiatric care in the catchment area of the Psychiatric University Hospital Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital participated in a cross-sectional patient survey carried out with a structured interview regarding financial burden, sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results: Of the participants 269 (55.1%) showed outstanding debts, loans or unpaid bills. Among the participants who were willing to give information about the amount of debts, the majority (47.0%) had debts between 1000 € and 9999 € and 36.3% between 10,000 € and 99,999 €. In the binary regression models, younger age and substance use disorders were factors significantly associated with outstanding debts. Of the participants 22.3% had outstanding debts >10,000 € and were depending on social welfare, so that indebtedness could be assumed. Conclusion: Financial burdens and outstanding debts among patients in psychiatric care should be inquired about and considered more intensively in practice. Suitable models of support need to be developed and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homelessness is an expression of marked social exclusion phenomena and often particularly affects people with mental disorders. Mental disorders often precede the onset of homelessness but can also be a result of homelessness. Different forms of therapeutic and social support interventions have been evaluated in various countries, predominantly with an outreach treatment approach. These interventions were often combined with low threshold availability of housing programs. These showed positive effects on housing stability and reduction of psychiatric symptoms but not in reduction of substance use disorders. Peer support strategies and the use of digital media are possible options for future therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implicit orientation of religious education in both schools and religious communities towards middle-class families leads to the almost complete exclusion of socially disadvantaged children, youth and adults as subjects of religious learning by life-course based models of religious education. Starting with a critical assessment of milieu-based forms of exclusion in various places of religious learning, this contribution lays out theoretical perspectives towards including individuals affected by poverty and develops empirical research perspectives based on a biographical case study of an informal process of religion-related education ("Bildung") as experienced by one socially marginalised youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intensification of social inequality can be observed in several countries of the European Union. As a result, poverty has become a key concept of the EU’s social policy agenda. Because of family members' commitment to unconditional mutual solidarity, families are considered to be an important bulwark in the war on poverty. Poor families, however, are unable to fulfil such expectations. Their daily lives, as well as the family itself as an institution, are marked by pressures resulting from institutional transformations of labour markets and the welfare state. This contribution outlines the specific challenges that poor families face and describes three typical strategies of coping with poverty within the family. While routinisation and intensification strategies are only moderately successful in improving the family situation, seeking options is a strategy that opens up new opportunities, which also offers entry points for providing social aid and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]