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
Your donations enable us to fund a range of activities such as:
In 2022, Swiss Solidarity supported the following organizations through its homeless fund:
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.
Swiss Solidarity, 1211 Geneva 8
Your donation is tax deductible in Switzerland.
