For almost five years, the Émile program has been running in Lozère. It allows people experiencing poor housing in Île-de-France to settle in departments where access to social housing and employment is easier. Laëtitia Plo and Frédéric Salvetti, from the Aurore association, are responsible for support.
Launched in 2019 by the Interministerial Delegation for Accommodation and Access to Housing, the Émile program is dedicated to people experiencing poor housing in Île-de-France, and more recently in Lyon. Nine French departments join the program.
In Lozère, Laëtitia Plo and Frédéric Salvetti, employees of the Aurore association, are in charge of this program. The Aurore association deals with various issues around health, employment and housing.
They support users from the beginning to the end of their process: diagnosis, proposals, immersion stay, job interview, new accommodation and even moving.
On average, from the moment candidates contact the structures in Île-de-France, they are settled after six months. “Once they have completed their immersion and they have the position, it often takes a month and a half or two before they settle in. It goes relatively quickly”explains the social support officer.
Provide a service to the department
The installation is not only being done in Mende, the objective is also to be of service to the hosting department. Laëtitia Plo and Frédéric Salvetti study each case. They make proposals based on the needs of the territory. “In Lozère, we need people to arrive”deplores the business relations manager.
In addition, the program is not only dedicated to single people. The move can even affect entire families. In this type of case, Laëtitia Plo takes care of the procedures for registering children at school, for example. “It depends on people’s needs. Sometimes it can concern medical care, CAF… develops Frédéric Salvetti. We make sure that they have as little to think about as they start their work and their new life.”
“It's true that leaving everything behind is no small thing. It's a big step in their lives, which is why we're organizing an immersion stay to discover the territory, before they engage”adds Laëtitia Plo. The latter ensures that after each immersion, the users she met were always ready to settle down. In 2024, twelve people have moved thanks to the Émile program.
“Let them want to come”
“In Paris, poor housing affects a lot of people.” However, if users leave certain difficulties specific to Île-de-France, they find others when arriving in Lozère. “Upstream, we explain to them the difficulties they may encounter and what we are putting in place to remedy them. We explain to them the advantages and disadvantages of each territory so that they choose their department as best as possible. We want them to 'they want to come, and they won't be disappointed', says Frédéric Salvetti.
And it works. Of all the installations that have taken place since the pair took office, only two people have left the department. “Ultimately, even if there are other difficulties here, people are better off there.”
The sectors of activity in which users are hired are quite vast: supermarkets, medical sector, truck drivers, catering, etc. Depending on the people's CVs, the program also allows them to be directed towards training, “if we realize that it’s going to be complicated to find them a job directly.”
Even after installation, the two employees remain in contact with the new Lozère residents. “It’s not always easy, especially for single people. We are their only reference point. We allow them to create a bond”concludes Laëtitia Plo.
