“Shelter and support”: near Bordeaux, seven municipalities are mobilizing against domestic and intra-family violence

Two co-financed accommodations, communication, training: from Ambarès to Saint-Loubès via Carbon-Blanc, seven municipalities of the Ambès peninsula are pooling resources for the cause with the Association for the reception of women in difficulty

"It was in 2015. I received a phone call from Alain Turby, then mayor of Carbon-Blanc," says Josiane Zambon, mayor of Saint-Louis-de-Montferrand. "He knew we had emergency housing in the town and asked for help for 'a woman in need of help', a victim of domestic violence." In conjunction with the police, the person in distress was then housed anonymously, protected, and supported by the Carbon-Blanc Community Social Action Center (CCAS), and assisted by the Restos du Cœur. "I realized the usefulness and necessity of working together in this kind of tragedy."

One story among others, like the embryo of "Together against domestic and intrafamily violence (VIF) on the Ambès peninsula", a system born in 2019, fully operational since 2022 with the first emergency housing specifically dedicated to victims, the management of which has been entrusted to the Association for the Reception of Women in Difficulty ( Apafed ), which has been working in the Gironde for forty years in this field. "The project was born from the long-standing collaboration of the coordinators of the Local Councils for Security and Crime Prevention (CLSPD)," recalls Zaky Aït Ouarab, coordinator in Ambarès (1). "In addition to regular exchanges of information, we had already worked on youth projects or community service."

The observed increase in VIFs on the peninsula soon mobilized professionals and elected officials, with the desire to include "small municipalities" (Saint-Louis, Saint-Vincent or Ambès) in the shared approach. Within an inter-municipal peninsula prevention agreement, pooling of resources and a network of stakeholders are developed. Municipal services, social centers, landlords, associations ( CIDFF , Apafed, Vict'aid , Prado , etc.), CAF, prefecture and even the Bordeaux public prosecutor's office now constitute a network of around a hundred technicians and elected officials.

“Time to relax, recover and prepare for a new autonomy”

Beyond the political divides before and after the 2020 election, one priority is essential: providing emergency housing exclusively dedicated to "sheltering and supporting," as Josiane Zambon emphasizes. "When the roof of a house burns down, it's simple: we temporarily relocate to our two dedicated homes, and the insurance companies are called in," explains Emmanuelle Favre, mayor of Saint-Loubès. "For victims of violence, this brings into play other dimensions that we don't have a smooth grasp of. I remember a woman reported to five different city hall departments without there being any connection between them. Alongside training the police on the subject, we have also made progress."

The seven municipalities (2) are financing the rental of a first apartment in the social housing sector at the end of 2022, a rental supported by Apafed, which manages the stays and support (social, health, etc.) of victims. "They often need time to settle down, recover, and prepare for a new independence," explains Naïma Charaï, director of the association, which already accommodates and supports many women and their children (currently 130 women and children) in the Bordeaux metropolitan area through state programs. "This is the first time that municipalities have come together in this way to finance this type of accommodation."

A second T3 is coming in 2024 and an additional house will be opened this year. Depending on the number of victims, cohabitation or not. "We prioritize accessibility by public transport, avoid ground floors and obviously cultivate discretion," says Marie Daniel, head of department at Apafed. The accommodation is for three months, renewable twice. Eleven people were accommodated in 2024 in the two apartments. The local authorities finance the rental but also the support of the people, as well as around ten hotel nights per year: a budget of 27,000 euros in 2024, to which is added 7,500 euros from the Interministerial Crime Prevention Fund .

In addition to these housing units, elected officials and technicians are receiving specific training. A joint collection of "best practices," currently being created, details the role and contact details of each stakeholder. Public outreach campaigns have already been launched (violentometer, variety of rights-of-way, etc.), and awareness-raising campaigns on gender equality and domestic violence will be rolled out in the peninsula's four middle schools.

The peninsula is a model in this area: the city of Bruges has followed suit and the first house opened in February 2025. South Gironde is interested in the approach and, in the Rives de la Laurence community of communes (of which Saint-Loubès is a part), a commission is working on a project.

(1) CLSPDs exist in Ambarès, Bassens, Carbon-Blanc and Saint-Loubès, a fifth is planned in Ambès. (2) Ambarès, Ambès, Bassens, Carbon-Blanc, Saint-Loubès, Saint-Louis-de-Montferrand and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul.