Editorial on social assistance in Geneva –
Towards a paradigm shift at the General Hospice
The entry into force of a new law on social assistance in Geneva must transform the functioning of this pillar of solidarity.
Editorial Published today at 8:28 a.m.
The social assistance reform was based on the failure of the previous revision.
GENERAL HOSPICE OF GENEVA
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The year 2025 promises to be a turning point for the Geneva social landscape. The entry into force of the new law on social assistance must transform the operation of the General Hospice. Because this pillar of solidarity is facing increasing pressure linked to increasing needs and exploding costs.
The doubling of positions (1,500 employees today) and the budget (which is approaching one billion) in ten years demonstrates the scale of the challenge: finding a balance between support for the most deprived and budgetary constraints.
At the head of the Hospice since 2012, and therefore a privileged witness to its evolution, Christophe Girod provides valuable insight to measure the implications of the reform on the role of the State in society and the daily life of the beneficiaries of the Hospice. social assistance, 26,000 currently!
How can the new law improve their integration process, which remains subject to improvement? What are the risks of seeing inequalities strengthen in a canton where the social assistance rate is more than twice the Swiss average of 3%… It must be said that with 100,000 cross-border workers, the job market is very competitive.
In recent years, the institution has seen the arrival of a thousand working poor in need of additional salary. A very urban phenomenon which does not spare young people. To prevent them from settling on welfare, a pilot project is to allow those who are registered with the Hospice to receive study allowances – and not social assistance – if they train.
Christophe Girod also aspires to reduce administrative controls to gain efficiency: either save money and free up social time to better support beneficiaries… in order to make them independent.
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Laurence Bézaguet has worked at the Tribune de Genève since 1995. Started his career at Courrier before working for six years at the daily La Suisse. Was also an independent journalist for eighteen months in Canada and wrote a book on the Crossing of the Harbor, published in 1996, with former State Councilor David Hiler. More info
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