Support for homeless and marginalised people in Switzerland

Homeless or without a fixed address, these people are marginalised, suffer from isolation and face many health issues. We are accepting donations and launching an appeal for projects to give these people back their place in Swiss society.

Donate now

 

The most severe form of poverty in Switzerland

Forced to sleep on the street because they no longer have a home, a place they can go to recover from the bustle and stress or simply to rest—this is what it means to be homeless. Despite the fact that this situation is considered to be the most serious form of poverty in Switzerland, there are no regularly updated national statistics on the number of people affected.

According to the first-ever in-depth study on homeless people in Basel conducted by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW),* becoming homeless or finding yourself without a fixed address is very rarely voluntary. Of all the people interviewed, only three had chosen to sleep rough. The same study revealed that the main factor leading a person’s homelessness is loss of employment.

Health problems, relationship troubles and Switzerland’s housing market are just a few of the factors that aggravate the situation and have the potential to prolong it. Undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and people suffering from psychological problems also face the risk of having to live on the streets. One of our priorities is therefore to analyse these people’s specific needs in order to respond appropriately.

*DRILLING, Matthias, DITTMANN, Jörg & BISCHOFF, Tobias (2019) “Obdachlosigkeit, Wohnungslosigkeit und prekäres Wohnen”

"According to emergency shelter data, the number of people without access to housing is on the rise. Homelessness is a challenge for cities and large agglomerations. Today, it is essential for us to fund quality projects so that those who live on the streets or in substandard housing can be given a chance to reclaim their proper place in Swiss society."
Stefanie Werder, Head of Social Action Switzerland, Swiss Solidarity

The impact of your donation

Your donations enable us to fund a range of activities such as:

  • Providing housing, including emergency accommodation and innovative solutions such as “tiny houses” (construction of temporary houses)
  • Providing basic necessities for sleeping and eating, lockers and healthcare
  • Organising activities to help homeless and excluded people to reclaim their rightful place in society
  • Deliver services to meet the specific needs of women, children and adolescents faced with homelessness or inadequate housing
  • Doing outreach work—reaching out to those who do not make use of aid structures
  • Providing legal support and guidance for homeless people so that their voices can be heard

 

More information

In 2022, Swiss Solidarity supported the following organizations through its homeless fund:

  • Aids Hilfe Bern
  • Armée du Salut Suisse Territoriales Hauptquartier
  • Association aux 6 logis
  • Association Femmes à Bord
  • Association Immo-solidaire
  • Association La Tuile
  • Association Les Lents
  • Association Maison de la Diaconie et de Solidarité
  • Association pour la sauvegarde du logement des personnes précaires (ASLPP)
  • Association pour le Bateau
  • Association Sleep In
  • Association vaudoise de sauvegarde du logement des personnes précarisées-AVSL
  • Associazione Movimento dei Senza Voce
  • ATD Quart Monde / ATD Vierte Welt
  • Caritas Genève
  • Collectif d’associations pour l’urgence sociale (CausE)
  • Collectif du Petit Magg
  • Collectif Mapo
  • CONTACT Stiftung für Suchthilfe
  • Fondation Le Relais, Rel’aids
  • Fondation Mère Sofia
  • Fondazione Casa Marta
  • Fondazione MATER
  • Frauenhaus beider Basel
  • INST – International Network of Social Tours
  • Kirchliche Gassenarbeit Bern
  • Kirchliche Notherberge Thurgau
  • Kirchliche Passantenhilfe Bern AKiB
  • Le Caré
  • Médecins du Monde Suisse
  • National Coalition Building Institute Schweiz
  • Pôle Solidarité de l’Eglise Catholique Romaine
  • Rêves sûrs – Sichere Träume
  • Solidara Zürich
  • Unabhängige Fachstelle für Sozialhilferecht UFS
  • Verein Ein Bett für Obdachlose Zug
  • Verein Frauenoase
  • Verein für Gassenarbeit – Schwarzer Peter
  • Verein kirchliche Gassenarbeit Luzern
  • Verein Sanibern
  • Verein VIWO
  • Verein Wohnenbern
  • Verein Wohngenuss
  • XENIA Fachstelle Sexarbeit

You are an organization or association active in Switzerland and would like to apply for funding? Click here (French) or here (German) for more details.

Together, we want to enable those who are isolated and vulnerable to be seen and have a real place in our society. Thank you, because your donation will make a difference in these people’s lives.

Donate now

If you have any questions or would like to know more about our Foundation, please contact us. We will be happy to answer you.

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