Programs of civil society organizations for people at risk of poverty: Croatia and comparable post-transition countries

Hrvatska se, zajedno s drugim zemljama posttranzicije nalazi pred fenomenom visoke stope rizika od siromaštva koji pogađa veliki broj stanovništva. Uz klasične programe i socijalne usluge koje pruža država i lokalne vlasti, ova je skupina korisnika u određenoj mjeri zastupljena i u programima organizacija civilnog društva. Organizacije civilnog društva važan su dionik suvremenih sustava socijalne politike. Njihova je važnost posebno naglašena u vidu pružanja socijalnih usluga kojima se unapređuje kvaliteta programa i opseg korisnika obuhvaćenih njihovim programima. Rad analizira upravo pružanje socijalnih usluga i programa za osobe u riziku od siromaštva, kako u Hrvatskoj tako i u izabranim drugim posttranzicijskim državama. Polazeći od aktualnih statističkih podataka, u radu su kategorizirane skupine osoba koje jesu ili bi potencijalno mogle biti korisnici programa organizacija civilnog društva u području borbe protiv siromaštva i socijalne isključenosti. Poseban je naglasak stavljen na primjere dobre prakse iz susjednih zemalja koje se bore s istim problemom, kao i na djelovanje Crkve i crkvenih organizacija kroz povijest i danas. Na kraju, rad daje kratak osvrt na suradnju neprofitnog sektora s državom i lokalnim vlastima i na načine financiranja programa i projekata koje provode organizacije civilnog društva.Croatia is, together with other post-transition countries, facing the problem of high at-risk-of-poverty rate, which affects a large number of the population. In addition to the classic programs and social services provided by the state and local authorities, this problem is to some extent represented in the programs of the non-governmental sector. Civil society organizations are an important stakeholder in modern social policy systems. Their importance is especially emphasized in the form of providing social services that improve the quality and number of people covered by their programs. The paper analyzes the provision of social services and programs for people at risk of poverty, both in Croatia and in some other post-transition countries. Based on current statistical data, the paper categorizes groups of persons who are or could potentially be beneficiaries of civil society organizations' programs in the form of the fight against poverty and social exclusion. Special emphasis was placed on examples of good practice from neighboring countries struggling with the same problem, as well as on the role of the Church and church organizations throughout history and today. Finally, the paper provides a brief overview of the cooperation of the non-profit sector with the state and local authorities and the ways of financing programs and projects implemented by civil society organizations