The CESE recognizes the role of supported housing in housing seasonal workers

The CESE first recalls some data from INSEE concerning the profile of seasonal workers: seasonal employment employs 2,5 million people, with each seasonal worker carrying out on average nearly two contracts per year. 15% of them (around 375.000 people) work outside their region of residence. 77% of seasonal workers have annual salary income of less than 6.440 euros, compared to 38% for all employees. Finally, we note a strong representation of young people: 44% of seasonal workers are under 26 years old (18,8% for private sector employees).

The opinion is built around 4 axes, which concern Unafo: strengthening the coherence of public policies; create a legislative, regulatory and fiscal action framework; support the development of shared collective projects and meet the expectations of seasonal employees.

Unafo notably shares the desire for greater coherence in public policies and supports the proposal to create the function of interministerial delegate for seasonal housing. She thus regretted that the plan announced in June 2023 by the government did not make the link with the Housing First plan, which had led to the role of social residences being made invisible, which the CESE did not do. Indeed, among the abundance of initiatives and solutions, the EESC does not forget to cite the role played by social residences.

A study carried out in 2022 on the socio-economic impact of social residences, carried out by Unafo, Dihal and Cilpi, focused in particular on a residence for seasonal workers in Cannes. It showed how the flexibility and flexibility of social residences making it possible to quickly make accommodation available, but also to extend the duration of occupancy of the accommodation in the event of an extension of the season, were also a source of savings in time and effort. money for businesses. “ Without the residence, I would need an additional FTE to support seasonal workers in finding accommodation » a restaurateur told us. Social residences promote, thanks to social rental management (AGLS), mediation work to simplify mobility, prevent risky behavior and facilitate access to rights or health.

One of the proposals made by the CESE aims in particular to provide the necessary means to managers of social residences to enable them to carry out their missions, “ by updating the support envelopes for associations for assistance with social rental management », request regularly issued by Unafo, which recalls that this aid is not paid to all social residences. Unafo is asking that the AGLS become a legal aid and that its amount be revalued.

It is now up to the State to rely on this opinion to strengthen with all stakeholders the roadmap defined in June 2023.