Published
The School of Social Work and Health will pilot a project with academic partners and actors in the field to better support people in precariousness.
In 2020, in Geneva, thousands of people lined up for hours to receive a bag of free groceries.
afp
At the very beginning of the health crisis, an image as shocking as it was surprising made the rounds of the country: in Geneva, an endless line of people is lining up to receive basic necessities. An island of poverty is revealed in front of this Switzerland perceived as an archipelago of prosperity.
But for the Protestant Social Center Vaud and Caritas, which rub shoulders with a fringe of the population invisible to the radars of the social safety net able to ensure the minimum subsistence, nothing surprising. In 2020, when the economic consequences of the health crisis were just beginning to be felt, the two structures had granted the equivalent of 1.4 million francs in financial and food aid to people in precariousness. These are, in particular, people without papers, students who have lost their odd jobs, families whose incomes exceed by a hair the level giving right to social assistance or even people who give up public assistance. to which they are entitled.
Call heard
To remedy this situation, they had recommended the establishment of an observatory of precariousness. Their appeal has just been heard by the canton of Vaud. “Better understanding allows us to act,” said State Councilor Cesla Amarelle on Friday, when this initiative was announced. observatory which will make it possible to “better document situations of precariousness by bringing academic skills and those from health and social action around the same table”.
Launch in May
This project, which will be officially launched in May, will be coordinated by the Lausanne University of Social Work and Health (HETSL). “The observatory will contribute to a better understanding of the factors of poverty and precariousness and will help to feed the political authorities in the search for improvement measures”, indicated State Councilor Rebecca Ruiz. For Caroline Regamey, head of social action at the CSP Vaud, this observatory will “make the invisible visible”.
Presentation file on www.hetsl.ch/actualites
(apn)