losai.ch, an awareness campaign to facilitate access to social benefits

“Do you need a hand? You might be entitled to support.” With this message, losai.ch kicks off: an awareness campaign promoted by the Division of Social Affairs of the City of Lugano in collaboration with the municipalities of Canobbio, Massagno, Porza and Sorengo.

The initiative was created to counter the phenomenon of non-take-up of social benefits, providing initial information and personalised guidance – including anonymously – to those who might be entitled to support measures.

A challenge for the welfare system
According to recent national studies, between 25% and 30% of potential beneficiaries in Switzerland do not access the economic support services provided by law. This phenomenon contributes to persistent poverty and social exclusion, especially among the most vulnerable groups.

The main causes include:

• limited awareness of rights and available benefits
• fear of social stigma
• complex bureaucratic procedures
• concerns about repercussions related to residence status
• exclusive reliance on informal support networks

The most affected groups are single-parent families, women with discontinuous work histories, and people with a low level of education.

The losai.ch campaign
Inspired by the successful 2024 campaign JU-lien promoted by the Canton of Jura, the project aims to:

• facilitate access to social benefits through clear and accessible information;
• offer an initial, individual orientation service, also anonymously;
• systematically monitor the phenomenon of non-take-up.

Thanks to inter-municipal collaboration, the campaign seeks to optimise available resources and promote an approach that respects the dignity of people in difficulty.

How it works
People domiciled in the participating municipalities can contact the service by calling or sending a message to the WhatsApp number 079 674 23 84 or by writing an e-mail to [email protected].

Within three days, a professional will get in touch to collect the necessary information. An initial guidance consultation on the available social benefits will be provided.

The service is aimed in particular at:

people in financial difficulty or at risk of a worsening situation, families, single-parent families, and low-income workers

The service does not include:

• direct disbursement of financial contributions
• psychological counselling
• handling administrative procedures on behalf of citizens

An invitation to collaborate
The losai.ch campaign is addressed not only to citizens but also to professionals who work daily with people in vulnerable situations: social workers, third-sector organisations, schools, associations and health services.

Their contribution is essential to spread information and facilitate access to services. The Division of Social Affairs of the City of Lugano and the partner municipalities therefore invite these actors to collaborate actively in signalling and sharing the campaign, so that no one forgoes support to which they are entitled.

“The fight against poverty must start at the level closest to citizens: the municipalities. This is where needs become clearest and where responses can be built quickly and concretely,” says Lorenzo Quadri, Head of the Department for Education, Support and Social Affairs – “With losai.ch we reaffirm the commitment of Lugano and the partner municipalities to put people’s dignity at the centre of our social policies.”

Duration and support
This first pilot phase of the campaign will end in mid-December 2025. An impact evaluation will follow to define any future developments.

The initiative is supported by Lastminute Foundation and by the Araldi Guinetti Foundation.