The Abej-Solidarités is a day centre which is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday and aimed at homeless people aged over 25.
The aim is to offer anyone living on the streets a place where he or she can sit down, rest and get something to eat. The centre provides a welcoming, friendly place where people can spend the day, get warm, have a cup of coffee, a bowl of soup, make a request and meet someone to talk to.
At the same time, they can see someone from a team of nurses, doctors and social workers if they require treatment, access to their rights, to improve their positions and to give them a chance to escape from the vicious circle of life on the streets. Everyone is eligible for individualised social support although this is not compulsory.
There are numerous services on offer : toilets, showers, medical consultations, free nursing care, consultations with a psychologist, social aesthetic treatment, breakfast, post collection service. To try and prevent repeat offences, a key worker also goes into prisons to retain a link with homeless inmates and help them get ready for release.
Beyond the specific help on offer, the reception staff work hard to listen and welcome people living on the streets. Ever since it was first set up, the ABEJ-Lille has been reaching out to the homeless by working in the very places where they struggle to survive. Because of its location in the city and the range of services on offer, no other regional organisation caters for as many homeless people: every year it helps more than 2400 different people, with an average age of 35.
Faced with the large number of needs that need to be met, the ABEJ-Lille opens its doors to volunteers who wish to offer their time and support. The association hopes to develop its partnerships with any organisations wishing to get involved in working alongside the most deprived people in our society.
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