The social support drop-in centre run by the Geneva Red Cross acts as a "resource hub" within the local social network. Its mission is to welcome people experiencing hardship and to offer them guidance and/or direct assistance tailored to their needs, thus protecting their dignity while improving their living conditions.
The work being done at the Geneva Red Cross’ social support drop-in centre reflects a rise in the number of people experiencing hardship across Geneva. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the poverty rate in the Lake Geneva region rose from 6.5% to 9.1% between 2013 and 2022. Furthermore, data from the Cantonal Statistics Office shows that the proportion of people receiving social support in Geneva rose from 5.3% in 2012 to 6.3% in 2023.
The social support drop-in centre’s priority is to work for the common good of the population by giving those in need tangible and immediate assistance. Over time – and particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic – it has become a key resource in the support system for people experiencing hardship.
In keeping with the mission of the Geneva Red Cross, the social workers at the drop-in centre indiscriminately welcome any resident of the canton of Geneva who requests their help. This means that anyone in need who comes to the drop-in centre will find a sympathetic ear, guidance and/or direct assistance depending on their situation, regardless of their legal status.
The drop-in centre’s main areas of action include: coordinating targeted referrals within the Geneva social care and health system to secure appropriate assistance; issuing the paperwork required for food parcels; and various forms of material assistance, such as providing clothing vouchers, sleeping bags or hygiene kits.
