Our member, Fédération de l’Entraide Protestante, published an inventory of citizen accommodation practices, reflecting on these practices’ interests, difficulties, and principles and presented a series of recommendations and proposals.
For several years, there has been an increase in initiatives that aim to provide accommodation for people in vulnerable situations, focusing on displaced people who have recently arrived in France. Five organisations have participated in this effort by setting up various solutions for welcoming those most in need.
Moreover, the public authorities have joined in finding solutions for the numerous people currently without a home. Now more than ever, as we still find ourselves amid a health crisis, it is of primary concern that everybody can access secure housing . However, on the eve of the presidential election, few candidates promote the idea of a welcoming France.
Eurodiaconia supports the need shared by Fédération de l’Entraide Protestante of creating an inclusive dialogue on collective experience in this sector. Fédération de l’Entraide Protestante published an in-depth analysis of the citizen housing programs that offers a detailed outline of what is currently happening in their networks. This represents an opportunity to highlight the change of perspective that this type of program can bring for the people involved.
Fédération de l’Entraide Protestante offers an insightful overview of what needs to change and what this program can provide for those interested:
• The citizen welcome programs respond to the need for community for foreign people and undoubtedly constitute a lever for integration. It is necessary to recognise the relevance of these programs and not consider them as a patch for addressing public gaps in accommodation and housing.
• Access to one of these programs should be an accessible choice for people, and this choice should have no consequences on their access to rights.
• Providing dignified housing conditions for all homeless people (including the most excluded) remains an obligation for the public authorities and a means of fostering cohesion and social inclusion from which all of society would benefit.
Find here the Policy Report, Executive summary, and the Press Release.