The respondents provided the following answers to describe the roles of institutions:
Aid institutions,
Associations
In terms of the role of the respondents in the institution:
Specialist in social benefits,
Coordinator
Assistant families
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Within their scope of responsibilities lie: assistance, counselling, benefits, assistance for women in difficult life situations, direct support, financial assistance, social work, workshops on e.g. the training budget or educational workshops, support groups.
Query about the services offered by public institutions granted the following responses:
housing benefits, social and financial aid, counselling,
assistance in completing applications,
accommodation, food, health, shelter
emergency assistance
charity, social assistance, including families and individuals facing difficult situations, ensuring equal opportunities,
assistance to women, single parents, children brought up outside family and victims of family life pathologies, or groups of at major risk of poverty,
budget training, meetings with a psychologist,
[…] our institutions offer various forms of financial and material assistance, legal counselling and psychological services for the elderly, the disabled, social work in an families requiring social assistance, support groups, educational workshops of various types.
The survey identified beneficiaries who use the services of the institutions (multiple-choice question):
unemployed - 8 people (80%)
large families - 10 people (100%)
single parents with a child - 10 people (100%)
people with low skills and education - 9 patients (90%)
those with a low income - 7 persons (70%)
other - 1 person
To the question concerning the legal status of institutions the answers were:
a public institution,
budget entity,
association,
Local Social Services Centre in Tarnow
Respondents indicated that their institutions carry out training in the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills:
[…] yes, we prepared and implemented such training - 7 answers (70%) […] yes, prepares training, but we do not implement - 0 answers (0%) […] we do not offer such actions - 3 answers (30%)
Among those who provide such services indicated they are in the form of:
workshops - 7 answers (100%),
counselling sessions - 2 answers (28.57%),
study visits - 2 answers (28.57%),
grants - 0 answers,
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other measures - 0 answers
Unfortunately, most institutions do not conduct innovative activities in this area:
yes - 4 answers (40%),
no - 6 answers (60%)
Actions that have been taken most often: career counselling, activation of women, meeting with counsellors, contact with companies that employ people dependant on the institutions, support groups and educational activities.
The question about laws and policies (legislation and other strategic documents) that address the problem of poverty and social exclusion gathered these answers: laws, regulations, ordinances, the Law on Social Welfare, Law on Supporting Family and Foster Care System, Law Against Domestic Violence, the guidelines on extreme poverty and human rights, the Charter of Human Rights, the Constitution, the National Programme for prevention of poverty.
[...] The legal basis for the actions of my institution is the Act of 12.03.2004 ‘On Social Welfare’
Respondents were asked if they use support networks for socially excluded people they answered yes (4 persons). Additional comment on the issue was: reluctance, demanding approach, the lack of willingness of training and improvement. Also, 4 people have marked answers:
[…] no because of fear by this, […] I cannot handle,
and
[…] a negative attitude to people who want to help me.
When it comes to economic factors, which are the main cause of poverty and social exclusion the results present the following reasons: 70% selected unemployment of a family member as the most significant factor, then the low efficiency of labour market institutions - 40%, employment on the basis of a civil contract or part-time - 30%, household debt - 30%, source of income (agriculture, pension, benefit) - 30%, low growth or decline in GDP - 30%.
Figure 1. How big is the problem of poverty and social exclusion in the localities covered by institutions?
Source: own research
The figure shows that two people do not know what the level of poverty and social exclusion is in the area of institution’s responsibility, two people indicate that a large proportion of population is affected, two that it is 6%, and 3%, 4%, 5%, 7% were selected by one person each.
0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5
I dont know
1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% High
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Figure 2. How large is the percentage of people at risk by poverty?
Source: own research
On the figure above we can see that 5 people do not know how many people are at risk of poverty, 2 persons indicated that the percentage is insignificant, while two people say it is 16% and 20%, and one person said that the number of such people is significant.
Figure 3. What are the main reasons for decline in household income?
Source: own research
The figure presents main reasons for decline in household income: 10 people indicated job loss as the main reason for a decrease in income; then the inability to work due to illness or disability (including family members) - 8 answers; a change in a salary or the number of working hours - 6 people; 5 people marked the answer: maternal or paternal stay with A child at home; 2 persons:
breakdown of the marriage or relationship and one person pointed to retirement, and one selected another reason for the change in the household.
The questions ranking social factors that influence the emergence of poverty and social exclusion resulted in the following respondents’ answers: 50% selected low levels of education and 40%
marked it as the most significant; the lack of qualifications and practical skills was marked by 50%
and 40% respondents selected it as the most significant. Low number of respondents chose disability as the most important factor. 60% underlined that living in the countryside has a negligible impact and 50% ranked alienation and no willingness to help at level 5 out of 7. Rank 4 was given to hopelessness and lack of entrepreneurial attitude by 70% of respondents. 60% (6
47 people) chose difficult family situation (both couples and single parent situation). The factors that may affect the emergence of poverty and social exclusion problem are: addiction, reluctance to work, depression, disappointment, unfulfilled ambition, violence, poor education, values brought from home, the feeling of hopelessness, migration, frustration, passivity, bad luck and chronic illness.
2. How do policy-makers discuss other institutions of the social security system and their own