Proposals to Eradicate Poverty in Portugal with the Help of Companies

Abstract

Poverty is a socioeconomic state that is defined as a lack of resources and is associated with an unequal distribution of wealth.  According to the Report "Poverty and Social Exclusion in Portugal" (2022) the pandemic crisis has increased the risk of poverty or social exclusion between 2020 and 2021 in Portugal (12%). The trend will be a worsening of living conditions and a decrease in the disposable income of families. The purpose of our work is to promote the connection and closeness between the most disadvantaged individuals and companies, so that companies play an active role in fight against poverty. In this sense, we mention some entrepreneurial attitudes that companies can follow in order to decrease poverty in Portugal. Our first proposal is for companies to invest in housing that will be used to shelter homeless people, since the lack of housing is the main difficulty that prevents the satisfaction of other basic needs. Only when this problem is solved should the individuals be reintegrated into the labor market. This proposal arose from the collaboration with entities such as the organization NPISA Aveiro IPSS Florinhas do Vouga, which acts directly in this area. The second proposal is to publicize the benefits inherent in the implementation of social responsibility departments, so that more companies will invest in them. Finally, we address the problem of food waste in order to reduce it and simultaneously contribute to reducing hunger. Thus, the proposal is aimed directly at companies that have a canteen or that have their main activity related to the distribution or sale of perishable food. The intention would be to distribute meals still in good condition to the needy at zero cost. The three proposals presented complement each other, since they act in different fields and should all be implemented simultaneously to obtain better results.