avustus

Avustus is a term used in Estonian and Finnish to denote aid or assistance. In Finnish, avustus stems from the verb avustaa meaning to assist, while in Estonian avustus comes from avustama to aid. The concept covers material or financial support provided to individuals, organizations, or communities by governments, charities, or other institutions. It is distinct from wages or earnings and from loans, though some programs include repayable elements.

Common forms include direct monetary grants to individuals (such as child or housing allowances), subsidies or reimbursements that reduce costs (education grants, health care subsidies, housing grants), and emergency relief following disasters. For organizations, avustus can be grants for cultural projects, research funding, or support for non-profit operations. In some welfare systems, avustus is a non-repayable transfer, whereas other programs may offer subsidized services or low-interest loans.

Administration typically involves eligibility criteria, application processes, and oversight to ensure proper use of funds. Criteria may consider income, need, citizenship or residency, and the purpose of aid. Benefit levels and duration vary by program, and recipients may be required to report on how funds were used.

In a broader sense, avustus functions as part of social protection and development policy, aimed at reducing financial hardship, enabling participation in society, and supporting social equity. The term appears primarily in Nordic and Baltic languages, with equivalents in other languages such as aid, grant, or subsidy.