Professional premises are unoccupied 70% of the time. Based on this observation, Les Bureaux du Cœur came up with the idea of offering these spaces to people in precarious situations to help them bounce back and stabilize their situation.
To achieve this, the association invites companies to become hosts. All it takes is to set up a specific space. A reorganization that Les Bureaux du Cœur can assist in implementing.
"We don't come to break down walls, but at a minimum, we can place a convertible sofa in a corner, a wardrobe for the guest to store their belongings, a kitchen area with a fridge and microwave for them to heat up a meal, and ideally a shower,” explains Kinda Garman.
Next, regarding the legal aspect, the project must be approved by both the landlord of the company, when it does not own its premises, and by the insurers, who must specify in their contract that they agree to cover the hosting of the guest.
A project that must also be carried out in agreement with all employees. “There needs to be participation in a discussion, a co-construction with the members of the company. It's a collective project.” Since, even if the guest arrives after the workday ends and leaves when employees return in the morning, there is a necessary exchange time planned.
"Our mission is also to create a social link, which is both highly mobilizing for the guest, as it provides the opportunity to meet people they wouldn't normally interact with, to feel part of a community, to regain their dignity, and to rebuild their self-confidence,” shares Kinda Garman. “But it is also an extremely unifying and transformative link for the employees who say they are changed by their contact with the guest. Gradually, the engagement of employees strengthens, as does a shared sense of purpose.”
The guests are directed by partner social organizations that know them well, sometimes for a long time. They are adults who do not have any proven addictions and are integrated into a path of reintegration, training, employment, or job recovery, or are already well advanced in an administrative process. “For us, these are extremely important elements, as the goal of Les Bureaux du Cœur is to be the last link in the chain towards the guest's rebound.”
As a result: 92% of the people hosted leave, at the end of the support, with stable housing or accommodation. Furthermore, 71% of them are employed after their stay. “So there is a real difference between the situation upon entering Les Bureaux du Cœur and upon leaving. And this re-mobilization is maintained over time,” specifies Kinda Garman.
“Employees from a company recently told me, it costs us nothing, it has no impact on our activity, except for our pride,” concludes Kinda Garman.
