From “neighborhoods” to “chalices”. How Romania has tried to combat poverty over time. A brief history of social work

People from poor neighborhoods are twice as likely to have gambling problems, according to an article based on studies and documents, published by HotNews.ro. The solution would be to eliminate poverty, which is a utopia. But better targeted social assistance measures towards disadvantaged people so that they do not become addicted to gambling are necessary.

From neighborhoods to chalices

In the past (and especially in Western countries) a social system functioned in which, to solidarity based on blood kinship or Christian principles, was added the structured action of “neighborhoods” (“voisinages” in French, “vicinie” in Italian, “Nachbarschaft German ”s, English “Neighborhoods”, etc.), shows a study published by the New Europe College.

These vicinities had inscribed precise obligations of the whole community towards any man in need. In the Romanian regions, this aid system only worked in a few isolated regions in Transylvania, imposed by the administration of the Austrian empire.

Such an operating regulation, called the “neighborhood article”, was found during the research carried out in Drăguș, in the country of Olt. It provided for the measures that had to be taken in the village in various circumstances, completely similar to those that operated in other regions of Europe; precise obligations to help the sick, to intervene in the essential moments of human life (birth, marriage, funeral) when it was known exactly what each “neighbor” had to do.

This kind of assistance, generalized in many regions of the West and carrying precise rules of intervention, clear punishments for those who do not fulfill their obligations, generally stops at the areas inhabited by Germans and Austrians.

The oldest organizations established under the auspices of the State and with the aim of distributing funds from public charity to the poor were calyx. The chalices were organized in the form of guilds, with a starost at their head.

By 1480, ruler Ștefan the Great was colonizing the calici, offering them a series of guild privileges. Another institution that managed the problems of the poor in the Romanian countries were the hospices. In 1565, the existence of the hospice at Mățăul de Jos, near Câmpulung-Muscel, is documented. The poor received, as it appears from a document signed by Vlad Voivod in 1524, in addition to housing, clothing and money.

Starting with the 18th century, social assistance shifted its center of gravity towards hospital institutions. Hospitals had outbuildings where the poor were housed and fed. It is mentioned in the document of the Patriarch of Alexandria Samoil, from 1715, the “Ptohotrophion” next to the Colțea hospital (“House for the poor”).

In 1775 Alexandru Ipsilanti established the tithe for poor children, laying the foundations of an asylum and a hospital for children called “Orphanotrophion”. In 1798, the “Manea Brutarul” asylum intended for the protection of minors is also mentioned in the document.

Between 1782 and 1785, Alexandru Ipsilanti, in Moldova, and Mihail Suțu, in the Romanian country, established the “Cutia Milelor”, a fund to help the poor. This fund was fed by taxes owed by metropolitans and bishops at the enthronement, by the boyars on the occasion of their installation as governors. Later fines were added for pet animals, the tax on innkeepers or court fines.

How were the poor selected for this support?

There was talk then of the need to select the “real poor”. The ipistat (secretary of the aga) was in charge of writing the list of beneficiaries, who received aid once a month, begging being forbidden. The Organic Regulations have brought more organization to the welfare activity of the State. They mention “Obsteasca Epitropie” and “Cutia Milesor” as funds coming from the State intended to support poor families, the infirm and beggars (who were not tolerated on the streets and who received monthly allowances).

After the unification of the Principalities, alongside the activity of the State, the presence of private initiative begins to be felt. What was the “Maternal” Society (1897), the “Tibisoiul” Society, the “Saint Ecaterina” Cradle, or the various organizations patronized by Queen Elizabeth, etc.

In 1920, as I said before, the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Protection was established, which will have an extremely important role in the scientific structuring of social assistance in all fields. In the period 1896-1917 they were assisted, by category of services: 98,759 people were sheltered at the night asylum, 705,559 benefited from meals at popular canteens, 208,500 subsistence aid, 35,750 aid for books offered to students with economic situation difficult.

Another action of the capital’s city hall and prefecture from 1910-1920 was the assistance given to beggars and vagabonds. Their number was estimated for that period at 13,000 people, according to the statistics of the time.

How many people are considered “poor” in Romania?

In absolute values, the number of poor people last year was 4.02 million Romanians, 278,000 less than in 2021, the INS reported.

Social transfers play an important role in reducing the poverty rate. If pensions and other social transfers had not been paid in 2022, almost half of the population (45.0%) would have been below the relative poverty threshold and the situation would obviously have worsened for the elderly ( aged 65 and over) who, in a proportion of 84.8%, would have been in a state of relative poverty.

The same situation would have been recorded for people in the 55-64 age group, but in a smaller proportion, 51.5%.