An innovative solution to providing housing for everyone

In the heart of Versailles, the Habitat et Humanisme (Housing and Humanity) association is building a family home where it will house society’s excluded, students and underprivileged families. A mix that is recommended by many.

Social and Employment

Place
France, France

Sponsor
Hugues Philippe

Grant(s)
28,000 euro to the Selection Committee at 2006/07/04

Project leader

Habitat et Humanisme Ile de France

In its 2006 report on housing problems in France, the Fondation Abbé Pierre, a reference in the area of social housing, puts at more than three million those suffering from “a serious problem of poor housing,” that is, people without any fixed abode, housed in shelters, “temporary” structures, camping grounds, friends’ sofas, etc.
To add their contribution to the seriously threatened social housing sector, many associations try to find local solutions, sparing neither their trouble nor their funds. They include the Habitat et Humanisme movement, which focuses on helping underprivileged people find housing and then helps them along the road to social and vocational integration.

A housekeeper to smooth the way for collective housing

Part of this network, the Habitat et Humanisme Ile-de-France association was created in 1992. With its nine employees, the help of one hundred and fifty volunteers and 425 members and donors, it housed 365 families in 2005.
A new project in 2006: it is undertaking a unique experience in the Ile-de-France region with the refurbishment of a building in Versailles to create family accommodation which will include twenty-two units for single, socially excluded people; a seventeen-place residence for bursary students; and three units for underprivileged families. Within their respective apartments, all the residents will be totally independent, however, a “housekeeper” will run all the collective aspects of the center and act as the coordinator-supervisor for this small community. In particular, this person will be in contact with local associations and health professionals to meet needs as they arise. While other such experiences exist in France, it is the first time that such a varied population will be housed together in the same place. The (highly supervised) challenge will be to ensure that this mix creates a new dynamic of mutual assistance in rebuilding each other’s future.


OTHER PROJECT SUPPORTED

Inauguration at Vernon (Eure) of a halfway house with 20 places to accommodate people in difficulty.

Domain: Social and employment
Country: France
Endowment: 2011/10/20
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