Cáritas Española closed the year 2024 with a record amount of investment in its social action and international cooperation programs: 486.9 million euros, an increase of more than 469,000 euros over the previous year. Thanks to these resources, the organization was able to accompany 2,185,004 people both inside and outside the country: 1,178,346 in Spain and 1,006,658 in international cooperation programs.
Integration of migrants
One of the most revealing data in the 2024 Report is that 47% of the people attended to in Spain are migrants in an irregular administrative situation, which is equivalent to approximately 550,000 people (out of the total estimated 680,00 irregular immigrants in Spain). This figure reflects an increasingly widespread and persistent social reality since 2019.
For years, Caritas has become one of the few entities that offer accompaniment to undocumented migrants, many of whom are referred from the emergency reception system - which offers protection for a maximum of three months - or who have fallen into irregularity after exhausting their visas or receiving a denial of asylum.
In addition, half of the people assisted by Caritas are the working poor or people at risk of losing their housing, and 80% of the aid requested is related to payments for supplies and rents, which shows an alarming structural precariousness.
The DANA, an unprecedented challenge
The floods caused by the DANA at the end of October 2024 in regions such as Valencia, Letur (Albacete), Mira (Cuenca), Malaga and Jerez represented one of the greatest humanitarian challenges that Caritas has faced within the national territory.
In just a few weeks, the organization launched an ambitious response plan that has benefited more than 16,000 people in the first six months, with an investment of close to 10 million euros. Actions included the rehousing of families, rehabilitation of homes and businesses, psychosocial care and legal support. The plan has a three-year implementation horizon and an initial budget of 33 million euroscollected through the solidarity campaign "Caritas with the severe floods in Spain".
Social economy: a bet on the future
The solidarity economy program was, once again, the program that received the largest volume of funds: 144.8 million euros, surpassing the Shelter and Assistance programs (93.1 million). This strategy, focused on socio-labor insertion and insertion companies, enabled one in five participants to re-enter the labor market.
The commitment to a social economy reveals Caritas' commitment to structural solutions to exclusion.
More funding for the women's program
Other key programs in 2024 were those aimed at the elderly (44.2 million), the homeless (41.7 million) and family, children and youth (24.7 million). However, the largest increase was recorded by the women's program, which increased its allocation by 24.1%, reaching a total investment of €5.5 million. This increase reflects the growing awareness of the specific vulnerability of women in situations of social exclusion.
Humanitarian emergencies in the world
At the international level, Caritas concentrated its efforts on forgotten or chronic crises, such as those in Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso and Morocco (Atlas area), still affected by the 2023 earthquake. It also maintained its presence in Ukraine and the Holy Land, regions hit by war and protracted conflict. In total, the international projects involved an investment of 20.5 million euros and reached more than one million people.
More corporate donors, more social impact
Caritas' work in 2024 was made possible thanks to the solidarity of thousands of members, donors and companies, whose contribution amounted to 343.5 million euros, an increase of 5.04% over the previous year. Particularly relevant was the growth in donations from the business sector, which increased by 15.6%.
143.4 million from Public Administrations, which financed numerous social and emergency programs.
Maximum austerity in management
Despite the growing volume of investment, Caritas has maintained its commitment to austerity: only 6% of the total budget went to management and administration expenses. "We have had this percentage for more than two decades," said Caritas Secretary General Natalia Peiro during the presentation of the Report.
This extensive activity is possible thanks to the commitment of 69,224 volunteers and 5,916 contracted workers, who form the backbone of this confederal network present in every corner of Spain.
