Social emergency: the ACG has agreed to a contribution totalling one million francs

On 28 October, the extraordinary general meeting of the Association of the Municipalities of Geneva (ACG), chaired by Xavier Magnin, voted unanimously to grant one million francs to the City of Geneva for use in providing emergency social services. This vote represents an initial step towards a common vision of how best to assist people living in a highly precarious situation, which will facilitate the pooling of both resources and skills.

The Administrative Councillor responsible for this matter, Christina Kitsos, applauds this solidarity between municipalities and reiterates the need for a legal basis in order to ensure the long-term viability of the emergency shelter scheme.

Since the Caserne des Vernets was closed and returned to the Canton, numerous associations have raised public awareness of the plight of homeless people. This call from the associations has clearly been heard. With this announcement by the ACG, the City reiterates the efforts made by everyone – the staff of the Social Service, staff of the Municipal Administration reassigned during the period of semi-confinement, associative partners and volunteers – to provide this service despite the current difficulties and constraints.

On 27 October, the Municipal Council of the City voted a motion in favour of creating an inter-municipal support fund for the emergency social schemes. And on 28 October, the Association of the Municipalities of Geneva voted unanimously in favour of a contribution totalling one million francs intended for the City of Geneva to support the schemes in place.

This financial contribution from the municipalities of Geneva marks a decisive turning point in this matter following the resumption of discussions by Christina Kitsos since the beginning of the new legislative period. Ms Kitsos is in favour of establishing a clear and solid legal basis for the emergency shelter scheme while advocating a shared governance model.

Towards tangible and pragmatic solutions

With winter approaching, the magistrate intends to pursue her discussions with the canton and all other partners. The Department of Social Cohesion and Solidarity (DCSS) is actively working to outline tangible and pragmatic solutions to cope with the immediate needs.

A total of 130 people can currently be housed at the Centre de Frank-Thomas and 2 Civil Defence shelters can offer another 50 places each. Furthermore, take-away meals will be available every day for the beneficiaries of the scheme. Alternatives are being examined to enable those concerned to eat indoors. The draft budget 2021 of the City of Geneva provides for the expansion of this social emergency scheme by allocating additional resources in order to cope with the social impacts of the health situation and to support the associations active in this field. The needs have indeed increased with the Covid pandemic and social distancing measures have cut the capacity of the existing shelters in half.

To complete its experience in this field stretching back almost 20 years, the City is conducting a comprehensive study on the issue of homelessness. The DSCS will commission experts to provide relevant elements together with a list of requirements and target groups in light of the supply available. This will serve as a snapshot of the current situation accompanied by a comparative analysis of the mechanisms in place in similar-sized cities throughout Switzerland and Europe and a series of recommendations designed to meet the current challenges, with avenues to be explored in terms of governing and allocating the tasks to the different public operators and associations.

For memory’s sake, article 12 of the Federal Constitution stipulates the general principles of providing aid to people in need. For the City, it remains essential that the Canton and the other municipalities anchor their schemes within a clear legislative framework stipulating the competencies, roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder.

Xavier Magnin, Chairman of the ACG, stresses that, “the municipalities have always shown solidarity with one another, in this case to the benefit of the most needy. They expect the Canton to make the same effort.”

Christina Kitsos concludes that, “it is time to envisage social action which fosters self-sufficiency and the reinsertion of these people in society.”

Contact

Manuelle Pasquali de Weck

Direction du département de la cohésion sociale et de la solidarité (DCSS)

Conseillère personnelle

Por. +41 79 446 40 13

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Article modifié le 25.03.2024 à 08:55