Inštitut RS za socialno varstvo / Področja / Poverty, social exclusion and policies of inclusion
Področje

Poverty, social exclusion and policies of inclusion

Poverty in the broader sense is understood as relative deprivation in various areas of life and as a lack of resources (material and immaterial) that enable the establishment and maintenance of normal or acceptable living conditions for a given society. the expected living conditions of individuals and families and their participation in activities that are normal or generally expected in society. Poverty is thus an expression of inequality in society and of various overt and covert barriers that prevent certain groups of the population from participating fully in society and its resources. It is mostly reflected in poor living conditions, material deprivation, and poorer access to resources, services, institutions, and opportunities in society. Social exclusion is a process whereby certain individuals, families, or groups are pushed to the margins of society, either due to a lack of material resources and poverty, a lack of opportunities and various obstacles, or as a result of covert or overt discrimination.

In our reports, IRSSV researchers focus on various vulnerable groups and different dimensions and manifestations of poverty and/or exclusion, as well as policies and measures for preventing and reducing poverty and measures for social inclusion.

Every year, we prepare a report entitled Social Situation in Slovenia, which provides an overview of changes in the social situation in Slovenia in the current and previous year, with a particular focus on the situation of various vulnerable groups. The report is based on both quantitative (indicators of living standards and their trends, broken down by different population categories and groups; data on trends and the structure of recipients of cash transfers and certain subsidies depending on the material situation of individuals and families) and qualitative data (obtained through focus group discussions and interviews with representatives of non-governmental and humanitarian organizations that directly provide assistance and support to individuals from vulnerable groups), and often includes assessments by social work centers and findings from studies, research, and reports by other institutions in Slovenia and abroad.

Two years ago (in 2009 and 2015), we conducted a study on poverty and social exclusion with a focus on families with children. Both studies covered different areas and aspects of the lives of families with children on low (or very low) incomes, taking into account both material and non-material aspects of poverty.

One of the particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups are homeless persons or persons with experience of homelessness. In most European countries, the number of homeless people is increasing, while at the same time both at the EU level and a12> in individual EU countries attention is increasing, aimed at the problem of homelessness. In recent years, IRSSV has participated in the only two national studies in this field, namely in a study entitled Assessment of the extent of visible and hidden homelessness in Slovenia, which was conducted a good decade ago, and in a study entitled Homelessness in Slovenia: extent, characteristics, and attitudes, which was conducted between 2020 and 2023. In 2024–2025, IRSSV provided expert support to MDDSZ in the conceptual design and content preparation of the national Strategy for Preventing and Ending Homelessness in Slovenia 2025–2035.

During the implementation of the pilot project social activation, which was mainly co-financed by the European Social Fund (within the Operational Plan for the Implementation of European Cohesion Policy for the period 2014–2020; the project leader was the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities), which addressed target groups of long-term unemployed persons and long-term recipients of social assistance with various complex challenges and difficulties, as well as women from marginalized social groups (immigrants from other cultural backgrounds, Roma women), we at IRSSV (under contract with MDDSZ) monitored and evaluated the implementation of the project and social activation programs, primarily in terms of their effects on the individuals involved and the target groups. Several reports have been produced in this context, which are available on the IRSSV website.

Within the field of persons with various disabilities, we address the following sub-fields:

  • Social situation in Slovenia
  • Poverty and social exclusion of families with children
  • Homelessness
  • Social activation
  • Drugo / pretekli projekti (Civicus, evalvacija leta boja proti revščini ipd.)