Homelessness in children under 14 years of age doubled during Javier Milei’s administration, despite the fact that social aid increased

The x-ray of today’s Argentina is that of an impoverished peoplewith more than half of its population under the line of poverty (52.9%) and almost 20% in a situation of indigence. The economic crisis affects all spheres, but its consequences are deepened in the most vulnerable sectors, affecting entire families who can be seen searching for food from garbage dumps with small children. And, during the government of Javier Milei, the destitution among girls, boys and adolescents doubled: it went from 13.6% to the 27% among the population from 0 to 14 years old in the last semesteraccording to data provided by INDEC.

The Government highlights its social policywith a real increase in the items destined for the Feed Card (TA) and the Universal Child Allowance (AUH). Between December and June the increases were 137.5% and 259.9%respectively, compared to a inflation of 115.55% accumulated in that period. In any case, the policy is insufficient to alleviate poverty figures.

Increase in inequality and growth of destitution

The other side of the increase in poverty is a more unequal country. The richest 10% of the population, which previously earned 16 times more than the poorest 10%, in the second quarter of 2024 began to earn 19 times more, according to the latest survey of the INDEC. According to what sociologist and economic developer Daniel Schteingart explained, the sharp rise in inequality was largely explained by the removal of the fourth category of the Income Tax. “The bulk of the increase is explained because the 10th decile did better than the rest,” he highlighted.

It should be noted that the income of the lowest level sectors failed to keep up with inflation in the last year. However, in the sector with greater resources, there was no loss of purchasing power. In absolute terms, the wealthiest households went from having incomes of up to $5,130,000 to the $43,240,000, (+742.9%) between the second quarter of last year and the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, those with the lowest income went from receiving up to $76,000 in the second half of 2023 $230,000 in the same period this year (+202.6%). The inflation was 271.5% year-on-year in June 2024.

The impact of homelessness on girls, boys and adolescents is, obviously, a direct consequence of the deterioration of household income.. In this sense, the freezing of the Empower Work program from December 2023aimed at workers in the popular economy; as well as the increase in unemployment and the recessionwhich impacts hardest on the most vulnerable sectors.

“One of the causes of this level of child poverty is that the Government increased the AUH and the TA simultaneously with the freezing of the Empower Work Program. The result is that the families benefiting from the entire set of programs registered a real drop in their income“explains the report “The sons and daughters of extreme poverty can only be destitute,” of ISEPCi, what they did Ruben Ciani and Isaac Rudnik.

In one of his latest reports on Argentina, UNICEF warned that one million girls, boys and adolescents go to sleep without dinner and that number rises to 1.5 million if those who are included are included. they skip some meals during the day. The canteens, to which the Nation suspended the sending of food and with whom it maintains a judicial dispute, they fulfill the function of bringing a plate of food to those 1.5 million children so that they can complete a basic diet, which no one should lack, since it is considered a human right.

Social programs vs. Basic Basket: how much are they enough for?

These three aid programs were, until December, those aimed at alleviating poverty. “The majority of the target population of the programs reaches the same population segment represented by the family nucleus. The plan Empower people who are at risk or in a state of social vulnerability or who work in some activity of the popular economy. The AUH and the card for the unemployed and unregistered workers or without contributions, among others,” the report adds.

Although the AUH and the TA increase towards June 2024 and cover more than half of the Basic Food Basket (CBA-which measures the poverty line), compared to 43% in 2023, the income from the Empower Work fell from 39% to the 20% between 2022 and 2024. This means that families can only access, with all the benefits, the 70% of the CBA, a percentage that worsens the indigence situation, if compared to 82.6% in 2023 and 103% in 2022. “At the family level, the effectiveness of coverage decreases, a situation that obviously affects the underage population.“, highlights the report of ISEPCi.

“The result of the ‘greatest fiscal adjustment in history’ cannot have any other sign than a general increase in poverty and indigence, a situation that affects all ages,” concludes the report they carried out. Ruben Ciani and Isaac Rudnik.