This is proof that listening and support are more effective than using force without a lasting solution.
Six months after its controversial opening in Lattes, near Montpellier, the transition village that welcomes former Roma from the Celleneuve slum, it seems to give satisfaction.
Of the 165 people (55 families) welcomed in the Rauze district on April 27, 34 have already left, most of the time with a job in hand and a roof over their heads. “ Only one family of four and one person were expelled from the village for not respecting the rules », Explains Christophe Cavard, regional manager of the Coallia association. 38 children are now in school. And even “ relations with residents are more serene “, Welcomes the prefecture of Hérault in a press release that takes stock.
However, when he arrived in July 2021, the new prefect Hugues Moutouh was a supporter of the bulldozer. The manu-military dismantling of various camps had soon shown their ineffectiveness in the absence of any prospect of lasting integration.
The end of the law of the strongest
This successful start in social integration is due not so much to the prefecture of Hérault which finances the project (3 million euros) as to the daily work carried out on site by three associations: Coallia, 2choseslune and Gammes. Which work in collaboration with the city hall * of Montpellier which, after having remained silent in front of the bulldozers, managed to convince the prefect to change his method.
As the village is due to close its doors in April 2024, the associations believe they can win their bet. “ The Celleneuve slum was infested with rats, it was the law of the strongest. There is no longer the concern for cleanliness, nor drug trafficking, nor the relationship problems between Roma »Assures C. Cavard, for whom there is no secret. “ From the moment you offer people decent housing, they are interested in other concerns. “
95% enrollment
Learn French with the Gammes association, for example. Or send their children to school. “ 95 % go to school of which 85 % with zero absenteeism rate. They are very happy “, Assures the head of Coallia. Professional integration is also gaining ground. The first precarious workers, CDD or even CDI (22 adult workers), often in cleaning, construction or mechanics, thanks to the “ a lot of work done with Pôle emploi (45 subscribers) and private companies “.
Every fortnight, the Dell IT company even offers training on the digital tool. Because to get the integration, you have to master the administrative procedures. “ CAF, dole … we helped them open up their rights “. To participate in the financing of the village, 10% of the income is also withheld. A way to make people understand that there are no free accommodations “.
* And the local youth mission of the Métropole de Montpellier which accompanies 13 people.
“There is no longer a problem of cleaning or drug trafficking”
