The County Council of Haut-Rhin conditions the RSA volunteer hours. Reaction of ATD Fourth World … – francetv info

The measure was adopted in plenary on Friday, February 5: payment of RSA is now conditioning at 7:00 weekly volunteer. The ATD Fourth World Association considers in a statement this morning that this decision is unacceptable

• Caroline Moreau
• Published 02/05/2016 | 5:28 p.m., updated 02/06/2016 | 12:15

© Maxppp

to finance the payment of the allowance, the county Council Rhine will have to mobilize nearly 100 million euros in 2016. the Community will also spend an additional 10 million euros to the integration policy, notably through the financing of subsidized jobs and accompanying measures.
dnas a statement, the departmental council of the Upper Rhine justifies this decision to condition the payment of the Active Solidarity income by the fact that policies can now be enough to face the reality of economic issues but also social. The number of beneficiaries continues to grow and the RSA is unfairly perceived as a form of assistance by our citizens. Therefore, under the free administration of local authorities, the County Council of the Upper Rhine “intends to assume its responsibilities in the field entrusted to it, that of the attendants for beneficiaries of RSA”.
the device passed this February 5 by the departmental Assembly proposes to condition the payment of RSA to 7 hours of volunteer associations service to local communities, retirement homes, publics.Pour Eric Straumann institutions, President of county council and deputy, “through this proactive and collective approach that will mobilize the network of associations and local authorities, the county Council of the Upper Rhine will replace the beneficiaries of RSA in action and change. This is to initiate a virtuous circle and pass the recipients user status to that of active volunteer and recognized. “

A steering committee will be responsible for defining the operational scope and conditions for implementation of the new device. It will consist of elected and will be open to representatives of associations and local authorities.

A platform of volunteering opportunities will be created, managed by the Department to facilitate the process for all parties (monitoring of tenders and good geographical distribution, volunteer “proximity”, evolve the device).

the press ATD Quart Monde published on Saturday morning in response to the decision of the departmental Board Rhine

RSA against volunteering in Haut Rhin: monetize national solidarity? Unacceptable!

This Friday, February 5, the department of Haut Rhin has passed a measure conditioning the payment of the Active Solidarity Income (RSA) to achieve its recipients to 7 weekly hours volunteer.

Fourth World rises up against this inhuman and unrealistic proposal.

Solidarity of the nation or stigmatization of beneficiaries?

the RSA is indeed synonymous with solidarity, one of the nation to those who are experiencing great precariousness. This solidarity now allows them to barely survive: how to house and feed themselves decently with 500 euros a month? It is often seen as a shame, many people prefer not to use these benefits for fear of what other people (50% of non-use of RSA on average according ODENORE in 2012). How could condition the payment of this allowance insufficient to volunteer work? How can one imagine reversing the sense of solidarity? Furthermore 28 hours per month is unrealistic in terms of logistics for organizations that should welcome these volunteer workers. Will we ask the same thing to all unemployed or are we trying to blame the people who live on minimum welfare?

Volunteering takes privacy.

ATD Fourth World works only on the commitment of its volunteers and its permanent volunteers. It is a key concept for us. However, we stress that the commitment is about privacy. We can and should force anyone to commit. No one should have to account to anyone for their volunteer activity. Many people who volunteer at RSA act ATD Quart Monde or other associations, but it can not become a constraint.
What people want is work.

the majority of people living in poverty we encounter want to be helpful and above all be able to live from their work. Rather than propose an activity that will not be paid and prevents meanwhile people looking for work, we invite the department of Haut Rhin to focus our experimental Territories Zero project long-term unemployed. It aims to redirect the cost of long-term unemployment to job creation at SMIC minimum, and CDI.