Problem addressed

In France alone, at least 330,000 people are homeless, sleeping on the streets, in cars, squats or emergency accommodation. With the housing market so tight, even working people can find themselves in precarious housing situations. Whatever the age or situation, the experience of the street is extremely violent and destructive and accelerates desocialization.

At the same time, every night and weekend, thousands of offices are heated, lit... and empty. 

This was the observation behind Bureaux du Coeur.

Innovative solution

We develop the use of professional premises as individual temporary accommodation at night and over the

weekend for people following an integration project. We rely on a tripartite relationship between:

- The host organizations, mainly businesses, public actors and associations, who make available for 3 to 6

months a sleeping area set up in an office or meeting room.

- Our partners, social integration structures or associations, who are responsible for identifying a guest

among their beneficiaries and supporting him/her in his/her daytime integration project (employment, access

to rights, healthcare, training).

- The guest, who uses the space free of charge at night and over the weekend.

By bringing these players together and actively accompanying them through the hosting process, Bureaux

du Coeur, allows each guest to bounce back.

To do this, Bureaux du Coeur relies on a large number of volunteers, who:

- Assist and guide potential hosts with legal formalities (obtaining the landlord's approval and adding a

clause to the insurance contract) and logistical aspects (they visit of the office premises to verify guests

would have access to the essentials : a heated area to sleep, a kitchenette, sanitary facilities, etc.) and

eventually suggest adjustments ;

- Set up a meeting between the guest, the accompanying organization and the host organization, overview

the signing of the tripartite agreement to formalize the reception ;

- Organize monthly follow-up

Key results and benefits

720 guests have been hosted since the program was created, representing 98,000 overnight stays

80% of guests have had a “positive exit” from the program, into permanent housing

300 host organizations welcome their guests every evening

290 partner organizations (solidarity associations, public bodies, etc.) assist the guests with their

reintegration projects

250 volunteers are mobilized to find solutions in 38 delegations, in France and elsewhere in Europe

Potential for mainstreaming

Bureaux du Coeur experienced a rapid development and change of scale in France, prompted by the

widespread need for emergency accommodations throughout the country, the simplicity of the model, which

allows for practical help to be given rapidly and easily, and the great demand from organizations wishing to

host in different regions.

The model developed by the Bureaux du Coeur is replicable across EU Member States, as proven by the

fact that different guests have already been hosted in 3 European cities outside France, and the association

Oficinas con Corazon, linked to Bureaux du Coeur, was created in 2023 in Barcelona.

Today, the Bureaux du Coeur are gaining more and more visibility in Europe and have been contacted by

different companies, associations and private citizens wishing to set up the same welcome system in their

cities.

In this context, the Bureaux du Coeur are reflecting on how to structure their expansion in other countries,

taking into account the needs and local specificities.