Local Calpe Brits help in bleak midwinter

COSTA BLANCA charity EMAUS is facing a bleak midwinter as it struggled against the chill caused by the ongoing economic crisis.

Based in Altea, the 32-year-old charity has plunged into debt as funding from the Valencia Government has all but dried up – it is understood EMAUS is owed hundreds of thousands of euros to pay salaries and bills.
RTN was told it is being forced to live hand to mouth with donations from generous British expat charities and individuals helping to keep it going.

EMAUS is perhaps best known for its nine children’s homes across the region where youngsters are in family-type units looked after by social workers.

However, it also runs an old people’s home, sheltered accommodation, a woman’s shelter, a home for the handicapped, and has a specialist team dedicated to trying to reunite children with their real families.
In total, there are around 300 people employed by EMAUS and some have not been paid for five months.

Local politician Carole Saunders – who is also President of Friends of the Children of EMAUS – said: “The situation is absolutely scandalous, something like 2.7 million euros is owed by Valencia. It is a terrible situation.”

APPEAL

Valencia has appealed for financial help from Madrid but the support is being drop fed – and is the reason people like the pharmacists have still to be fully paid.

“EMAUS did receive 100,000€ which paid a month’s salary to the social workers and a month’s worth of bills at the children’s homes,” said Carole. “But they have not been paid for five months now.

“And it is inevitable that some of the staff are having to look for new jobs, others are living back with their parents.”

She explained that EMAUS received a payment for each of the children it cared for. “However, everything is supposed to come out of that, including the wages of social workers.

“And EMAUS has always considered the number of social workers Valencia is willing to pay for is insufficient – this has always been a problem, a lack of money means cutting back on staff numbers.”

Carole, a councillor at Calpe Town Hall, said she and EMAUS President Montserrat Fiter were planning to appeal directly to Madrid for help.
Photo plus full story at http://www.roundtownnews.com/rtn-newsflash/item/39835-brits-help-in-bleak-midwinter.html