Social care is addressed to people threatened with social exclusion. Annually, over 26 thousand people benefit from various forms of social care. The reasons for providing this aid most often include: long-term or serious illness, poverty, unemployment, disability, helplessness in matters of care and education and in running their households.
The budget of the City of Poznan finances the activities of 20 care and educational establishments for children and teenagers, 7 nursing homes and their two branches, 6 daily assistance centres, 2 adoption and care centres, a crisis intervention centre, 9 shelters for the homeless and addicted, 9 communal homes of mutual aid and a single mother home. There are about 3 thousand residents living permanently in those institutions, including more than 700 people residing in nursing homes. The major group of pensioners is made up by the elderly (nearly 82% of people aged more than 61). Besides institutional forms of social care, support to people in need is provided by volunteers' organisations, some of which receives subsidies from the budget of the City for the implementation of their projects. The most active organizations and individuals active voluntary services are awarded by the city of Poznan in the annual contest "Poznan's Volunteer of the Year."
The City of Poznan runs support programs addressed to elderly, disabled and homeless people, as well as for those with mental disorders. Various actions aimed at preventing social exclusion, domestic violence and beggary are taken up as well.
More than 16% of the population of Poznan are disabled people, most of whom have an identified disability class.
The elderly people may also benefit from various forms of assistance. Since 2009, Poznan has been hosting the Centre for Senior Citizens Initiatives, which undertakes projects focussing on the activation of the elderly, as well as informational and educational measures aimed at promoting social integration and intergenerational dialogue.
Social economy entities also offer comprehensive support to people at risk of social exclusion, and often already socially excluded. Since 2003, the Association for Social Cooperatives, whose mission is to create new and support the existing social economy entities, has been operating in Poznan. The most well-known is the "Barka" Foundation for Mutual Help - one of the largest non-governmental organisations in Poland providing support to homeless people and those in difficult life situations. The Barka Foundation was granted numerous awards for the projects it has addressed to this social group. The development of the social economy is also supported by the City of Poznan.