Faced with rising prices which are hitting the poorest households hard, the City of Amiens, in collaboration with its Municipal Social Action Center (CCAS), is deploying a series of initiatives aimed at improve the purchasing power of residents while promoting autonomy and mutual aid and the link with society. Among these measures: solidarity collections, monthly thrift shopping, innovative concierge services and shared fridges.
Solidarity pickings to improve nutrition
With 20 tonnes of fruits and vegetables already harvested in 2023, the program of solidarity pickings is part of a dynamic of direct food support. Carried out by volunteers among social assistance recipients, these collections make it possible to redistribute baskets to more than 858 families. The objective is to collect 50 tonnes by 2025thus affecting 1,750 families by the end of 2024. This action would offer up to 100 euros of additional purchasing power to each beneficiary household, valuable support in a context where food prices have jumped by 16% between 2020 and 2022.
300,000 euros for new social measures
To strengthen this effort, the city has released 300 000 euros additional funding over three years to support CCAS initiatives. In total, there are 4.5 million euros in purchasing power that the municipality wishes to give back to Amiens living below the poverty line, or around 32,000 people. The objective is also to reach the working poor, a public that is often forgotten, although vulnerable. To date, only 7,000 people from Amiens apply for social assistancewhile many others could benefit from it.
Solidarity thrift stores for families
Solidarity thrift stores, organized every month in different neighborhoods by the association Les Dumpster Robinsalso met with great success. Each participant leaves with a clothes bag worth 200 euroswhich allows almost 10,000 people to regain the equivalent of 2 million euros of purchasing power per year. These events are part of a logic of solidarity redistribution while meeting essential needs such as clothing. The next thrift stores will be held on November 15 and 16 in the Saint-Honoré districtand the December 4 and 5 has Montières.
Concierge and DIY library: mutual aid in exchange for services
Launched last June, the Amiens solidarity concierge servicewith its bricothequeoffers an innovative approach to promote the autonomy of beneficiaries. They can exchange services for volunteering, which actively engages them in a process of mutual aid rather than simple assistance. This initiative helps to strengthen the self-esteem of participants, while allowing them to access essential services without going through a purely consumerist model.
Other company projects in preparation
The City of Amiens is also preparing to launch new initiatives to support its residents, in particular the establishment of solidarity chalets dedicated to the distribution of clothing for the most deprived, as well as the creation of a mutual insurance at affordable pricesspecially designed for people in precarious situations. These concrete actions aim to meet the essential needs of those who encounter daily difficulties, while strengthening bonds of solidarity within the Amiens community. By engaging in this process, the City wishes to improve the well-being of its citizens and promote lasting social support.
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