Marseille, a shelter for those who don’t have one

Every evening three hundred men sleep at Forbin, a reception and social reintegration centre for men of the Saint John of God Foundation (Fatebenefratelli) in Marseille, built in 1896, along with a structure for women, to give hospitality to the poor in this working-class port city. Its recognition as “”Work of public utility” in 1926 has enabled the Centre to benefit from legacies and donations that ensured the financial means for its sustenance. Without interruption, from the late nineteenth century, the brothers of the religious congregation before, and lay salaried persons today, welcome these men who spend their day on the streets of the city. The experience of the center has also become the subject of a documentary, “300 hommes”, released in French theatres, which has received numerous film awards in France. Sarah Numico for Sir Europe interviewed the director of the Forbin Centre, Georges Kammerlocher. Director, who are these people to whom you address your care? “They are aged 18-65 (and unfortunately some of them are even older). 70% are under 45; in 2013 we welcomed 2240 people and offered beds to over 100thousand homeless from 90 different nationalities. We welcome some thirty “serious marginalized persons”, who were in the streets for a long time, with different kinds of addictions, includinf young people, migrants, people who end up in the streets for family breakups or job loss. The economic crisis, coupled by the situation in the Maghreb and in Africa leads people to Europe. We also host many people who suffer from psychological problems or with serious health issues, both somatic and psychiatric. We have limited means to support those without a pension or benefit, but the workers of our centre help them in claiming their legitimate rights. The challenge often consists in preventing the deterioration of their health conditions, guiding towards health services people who need them”. Could you tell us more about how this reception takes place? “People arrive to register starting from 13,30 and then during the entire afternoon. Once they enter, they can go to their rooms, take a shower, relax in the courtyard or in the various halls; if they wish they can go out again for their commissions. A nurse and 9 social workers are present to help them with their papers, housing, and healthcare services … There is luggage storage for those without a single or locked room; there’s a canteen, for dinner and breakfast; we distribute clothing; there is also a washing service. In the evening, after dinner, we watch television, we do board games, and chat. At 23:00 they are asked to go back to their rooms. In the morning the alarm clock goes off at 06:00, shower, breakfast, luggage, cigarettes… They go out when they wish, by 09.00. Those who are tired or particularly tired or have an appointment with a social worker can stay. Then they start cleaning the house. At lunch there are some sixty people”. What difficulties do they encounter? “Many! First of all, those we put up are in a difficult situation: complex administrative situations, loss of documents requiring a great deal of work to obtain them; identity theft, as well as addictions. Some people ascribe their difficulties on the staff of the structure with insults, threats, and we noticed that they are also mistreated by the locals… The staff responsible for the reception is not trained to manage these human difficulties. Means are insufficient compared to the amount of work needed for quality reception. We are funded by the State and in a small part by the city of Marseilles. The centre is appreciated, but people we welcome sometimes are badly considered by the local inhabitants, although we try to keep in touch with them”. Tells about the success of a personal story… “There are many. It should be underlined what is meant with ‘success’ for people whose social standing fell miserably. M.D. for example – not to give his name in full – was over 59 since he arrived in the centre, originally from northern France: health problems, no documents, or money. After having given him some stability in the centre and helped improve his personal hygiene, we started a process to reclaim his legitimate rights: ID card, healthcare service, solidarity benefit; all this has allowed him to get treatment. At the same time we resumed contacts with his family; the social worker filed the papers to claim his right to a pension, which came after many months. After three years with us, earlier this year, he was welcomed into the pension St. Jean de Dieu, in Marseille, that offers a specific service for the elderly homeless, happy to have put an end to many years of instability and insecurity”.