While inflation has emerged at the start of this year as a major issue in public debate for businesses and individuals alike, associations are no less affected by its consequences. The Mouvement associatif and Recherches & solidarités conducted a survey to report on the effects of inflation on associations.
According to this study, carried out among 2,789 association leaders of all sizes, sectors, and regions, nearly one in four consider that this context is impacting their activity. Food aid associations are probably the hardest hit, since inflation has been and remains highest on food products, and because, on the other side, beneficiaries are also growing in number due to inflation. "It's really a double blow," reacts Catherine Fillon, founder of CSE Lyon, a food aid association for Lyon students. As a result, associations are beginning to fear for their sustainability.
As proof, Restos du Coeur is sinking into a financial hole of 35 million euros, with inflation further strangling the finances of the association founded by Coluche more than 30 years ago. To the point that, for the first time in its history, it is considering reducing the number of meals it distributes. But behind the alert from this giant of food aid in France, all associations are being hit full force by inflation.
For the SPA as well, the situation is worsening. Adoptions are down, shelters are "completely saturated," says SPA president Jean-Charles Fombonne, and everything is going up, from pet food to veterinary and energy costs. "We calculated that in 2021, an animal cost us around 630 euros. We're at 940 today." These problems also weigh heavily on volunteers' morale, as their commitment is called into question by financial concerns.
