Project presentation
In France, 22% of isolated homeless people are women, and 4,300 single women called the 115 emergency helpline in Paris in 2018 (+66% in 10 years). They are often invisible because they tend to hide and move around frequently in order to survive and avoid assaults. These women also suffer from a lack of shelters and hygiene facilities adapted to their specific needs. Although there are around forty free public shower facilities in Paris, only 10% of women use them, due to fear and the lack of privacy. Most existing support services are mixed-gender or designed primarily for a male population.
To complement the existing services in Paris and provide a comprehensive response adapted to the needs of homeless women, Samusocial de Paris opened a hygiene and care facility in March 2019 within the Charenton public baths (Paris 12th arrondissement), exclusively reserved for women every afternoon from Tuesday to Saturday.
The aim of this project is to offer homeless women a safe place where they can access hygiene facilities, a range of medical and paramedical care services, social support, and a welcoming space where they can rebuild social connections. The project also enables Samusocial de Paris teams to better understand and address the needs of this vulnerable population, which often avoids traditional day-care support services.
