According to a study by the Samu social de Paris, 90% of women living on the streets are victims of rape, assault, or various forms of discrimination. “The experience of living on the streets is extremely traumatic,” explains Nadège Letellier. “Especially when you are a woman, as you can quickly be seen as prey.”
To avoid these violent situations or to not be seen as homeless, women often make themselves invisible on the streets. They shower at public pools, spend their days in libraries or shopping centers. This allows them to survive, but does not improve their situation in the long term. That’s why the Samu social de Paris wanted to provide a welcoming space that offers many services tailored to this specific audience's needs.
A first initiative was tested for 3 years in a shower facility, before moving to a more suitable, larger, and more welcoming space in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, which opened just over a year ago.
A large apartment where women can move freely, wash for free, access hygiene products, menstrual protection, and spare clothing, where they can do their laundry and rest in a dedicated room. The team includes social workers to assist with various processes, lawyers for legal advice, employment counselors, a physiotherapist, and psychologists. Women can also benefit from wellness activities, sophrology, and art therapy.
“A whole range of activities that should help them regain confidence in themselves and their potential,” emphasizes Nadège Letellier, “to create and realize that they are worth it, that there is possible hope, that their situation can still change, that nothing is set in stone and that there are professionals here to support and help them.”
The goal is also to rebuild social connections. “Often, when someone finds themselves on the streets, it’s because the support networks they relied on are no longer there,” explains Nadège Letellier. “So the idea of this place is really to allow them to create connections with professionals, but especially among themselves. A woman who arrives alone at l'Oasis will never leave alone, but accompanied by other women. When they come to l'Oasis, they feel like they exist and have a kind of family that will serve as support, a lever for their reintegration.”
