The City of Geneva is making the Châtelaine civil defence shelter available to the Association Intégration des Mineurs sans Statut Légal (AIMSLFG). Beginning this evening at the shelter, the association is organising a sleep-in to provide immediate accommodation for families forced to leave their current housing.
This quick solution, avoiding the need for these families with children to return to the streets, has been made possible following the vote approving the extraordinary contribution of the Association of the Municipalities of Geneva. The outcome of the vote is welcomed by the Chairperson of the Association of the Municipalities of Geneva, Gilbert Vonlanthen, Executive Councillor Christina Kitsos and the directors of the AIMSLFG, Tiberiu Moldovan and Dominique Froidevaux.
The day after the 6.2 million francs were approved by the AMG, the Department of Social Cohesion and Solidarity organised a call for projects with a view to gradually opening some 200 emergency housing places quickly and efficiently.
Within the framework of this procedure, financial support was granted to the AIMSLFG which, being required to vacate the premises made available in Vernier, can already welcome 16 families, representing almost 70 people, at the Châtelaine civil defence shelter. This access was approved by the two relevant magistrates, Christina Kitsos and Marie Barbey-Chappuis.
The AIMSLFG provides shelter and support for the families from 4.30 p.m. to 10 a.m., paying particular attention to children. The directors of the association are delighted by this immediate solution, which has ensured that these families will not face the trauma of returning to the street. With the support of the City of Geneva, the search is continuing for other accommodation options. “It was essential to make every effort to ensure that these families were given the necessary support without delay while maintaining the precious know-how developed in collaboration with the dedicated staff of the association,” stressed the directors of the AIMSLFG, Tiberiu Moldovan and Dominique Froidevaux, in a constructive environment characterised by the unfailing availability of all the contact partners at the City of Geneva.
A keen advocate of solidarity and promoting the joint support of all the municipalities for the emergency shelter policy, Christina Kitsos thanked the Chairperson of the AMG, applauding the trust shown by the municipalities. “I welcome this partnership with an association which has demonstrated its capacity to play its role in ensuring the feasibility of this delicate undertaking in such a responsible and humane manner. My departments are strongly committed to implementing the wishes of the AMG and meeting the needs of the different individuals within our territory.”
As for the Chairperson of the AMG, Gilbert Vonlanthen, he firmly believes that “all the municipalities will provide a collective response to the issue of emergency shelter with a view to implementing the new cantonal law supporting homeless people.”
The Department of Social Cohesion and Solidarity has announced that new places will be made available in the coming weeks.
Contact
Manuelle Pasquali de Weck
Direction du département de la cohésion sociale et de la solidarité (DCSS)
Conseillère personnelle
Article modifié le 25.03.2024 à 08:55